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F. Albert Cotton (born April 9, 1930) is the W.T. Doherty-Welch Foundation Chair and Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University. Most of Cotton's research has focused on the the chemistry of transition metals, including the structure, synthesis, and properties of multi-metallic complexes.

Education

After a BS degree from Temple University in 1951, Cotton pursued a Ph.D. thesis under the guidance of Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson at Harvard where he worked on metallocenes.^[1] He received his Ph.D. in 1955.

Independent career

Cotton began his career at MIT with an emphasis on both electronic structure and chemical synthesis. He initiated a study of multiple bonding between transition metals, starting with research on rhenium halides,^[2] and in 1964 identified the first known quadruple bond in the Re₂Cl₈^2- ion. He soon focused on species related to chromium(II) acetate^[3] in work which continues today. He also initiated a study of metal cluster compounds. He was an early proponent of single crystal X-ray diffraction as a routine tool for elucidating the extensive chemistry of metal complexes. Through his studies on clusters, he demonstrated that many exhibited "fluxionality", whereby ligands interchange coordination sites on spectroscopically observable time-scales. He coined the term hapticity. In the early 1970's, he moved to his current location at Texas A&M, where he has continued to publish in academic journals and serve as a graduate advisor in the Department of Chemistry.

Pedagogical influence

In addition to his research efforts, Cotton has contributed to the teaching of inorganic chemistry. He authored "Chemical Applications of Group Theory".^[4] This text introduced generations of chemists to the group theoretical analysis of bonding and spectroscopy. With his Ph.D. advisor, he coauthored a text known colloquially as "Cotton and Wilkinson".^[5] The book is in its sixth edition in English and has been translated to many languages. The text surveys coordination chemistry, cluster chemistry, homogeneous catalysis, and organometallic chemistry. Prior to the widespread acceptance of "Cotton and Wilkinson" in chemical pedagogy, instruction in inorganic chemistry was more descriptive, less connected to organometallics, and less focused on molecular structure.

Cotton has served as a graduate advisor to over one hundred Ph.D. students, and hundreds of postdoctoral students have performed research under his supervision. Among his students are professors R. Holm (Harvard U.), C. B. Harris (UC Berkeley), T. J. Marks (Northwestern U.), S. J. Lippard (MIT), R. Walton (Purdue U.), W. Klemperer (UI Urbana-Champagne), J. Fackler (TAMU), etc.

Recognition

Cotton has published over 1600 papers. He has received various awards in the chemical field, including the National Medal of Science and the American Chemical Society's highest recognition, the Priestly Medal, and the Wolf Prize.

References

^ Wilkinson, G.; Pauson, P. L.; Cotton, F. A., "Bis-Cyclopentadienyl Compounds of Nickel and Cobalt", Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1954, volume 76, pages 1970-4. DOI: 10.1021/ja01636a080.
^ Bertrand, J. A.; Cotton, F. A.; Dollase, W. A., "Metal-Metal Bonded, Polynuclear Complex Anion in CsReCl₄", Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1963, volume 85, pages 1349-50. DOI: 10.1021/ja00892a029.
^ Cotton, F. A.; Walton, R. A. “Multiple Bonds Between Metal Atoms” Oxford (Oxford): 1993. ISBN 0-19-855649-7.
^ Cotton, F. A., "Chemical Applications of Group Theory," John Wiley & Sons: New York, 1990.
^ Cotton, F. A. and Wilkinson, G., "Advanced Inorganic Chemistry", John Wiley and Sons: New York, 1988.

[1] Wilkinson, G.; Pauson, P. L.; Cotton, F. A., "Bis-Cyclopentadienyl Compounds of Nickel and Cobalt", Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1954, volume 76, pages 1970-4. DOI: 10.1021/ja01636a080.

[2] Bertrand, J. A.; Cotton, F. A.; Dollase, W. A., "Metal-Metal Bonded, Polynuclear Complex Anion in CsReCl₄", Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1963, volume 85, pages 1349-50. DOI: 10.1021/ja00892a029.

[3] Cotton, F. A.; Walton, R. A. “Multiple Bonds Between Metal Atoms” Oxford (Oxford): 1993. ISBN 0-19-855649-7.

[4] Cotton, F. A., "Chemical Applications of Group Theory," John Wiley & Sons: New York, 1990.

[5] Cotton, F. A. and Wilkinson, G., "Advanced Inorganic Chemistry", John Wiley and Sons: New York, 1988.

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 ==Independent career==
-Cotton began his career at [[MIT]] with an emphasis on both electronic structure and chemical synthesis.  He pioneered the study of multiple bonding between transition metals, initially with research on [[rhenium]] halides,<ref>Bertrand, J. A.; Cotton, F. A.; Dollase, W. A., "Metal-Metal Bonded, Polynuclear Complex Anion in CsReCl<sub>4</sub>", Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1963, volume 85, pages 1349-50. DOI: 10.1021/ja00892a029.</ref> and in 1964 identified the first known [[quadruple bond]] in the Re<sub>2</sub>Cl<sub>8</sub><sup>2-</sup> ion. He soon focused on species related to [[chromium(II) acetate]]<ref>Cotton, F. A.; Walton, R. A. “Multiple Bonds Between Metal Atoms” Oxford (Oxford): 1993. ISBN 0-19-855649-7.</ref> in work which continues today.  He also initiated a detailed study of metal [[cluster compound]]s.  He was an early proponent of single crystal [[X-ray diffraction]] as a routine tool for elucidating the rich chemistry of metal complexes.  Through his studies on clusters, he demonstrated that many exhibited "fluxionality", whereby ligands interchange coordination sites on spectroscopically observable time-scales.  He coined the term [[hapticity]].  In the early 1970's, he moved to his current location at Texas A&M, where he has continued to publish in academic journals and serve as a graduate advisor in the Department of Chemistry.
+Cotton began his career at [[MIT]] with an emphasis on both electronic structure and chemical synthesis.  He initiated a study of multiple bonding between transition metals, starting with research on [[rhenium]] halides,<ref>Bertrand, J. A.; Cotton, F. A.; Dollase, W. A., "Metal-Metal Bonded, Polynuclear Complex Anion in CsReCl<sub>4</sub>", Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1963, volume 85, pages 1349-50. DOI: 10.1021/ja00892a029.</ref> and in 1964 identified the first known [[quadruple bond]] in the Re<sub>2</sub>Cl<sub>8</sub><sup>2-</sup> ion. He soon focused on species related to [[chromium(II) acetate]]<ref>Cotton, F. A.; Walton, R. A. “Multiple Bonds Between Metal Atoms” Oxford (Oxford): 1993. ISBN 0-19-855649-7.</ref> in work which continues today.  He also initiated a study of metal [[cluster compound]]s.  He was an early proponent of single crystal [[X-ray diffraction]] as a routine tool for elucidating the extensive chemistry of metal complexes.  Through his studies on clusters, he demonstrated that many exhibited "fluxionality", whereby ligands interchange coordination sites on spectroscopically observable time-scales.  He coined the term [[hapticity]].  In the early 1970's, he moved to his current location at Texas A&M, where he has continued to publish in academic journals and serve as a graduate advisor in the Department of Chemistry.
 ==Pedagogical influence==
-In addition to his research efforts, Cotton has contributed to the teaching of [[inorganic chemistry]].  He authored "Chemical Applications of Group Theory".<ref>Cotton, F. A., "Chemical Applications of Group Theory," John Wiley & Sons: New York, 1990.</ref>  This text introduced generations of chemists to the value of group theoretical analysis of [[chemical bond|bonding]] and [[spectroscopy]].  With his Ph.D. advisor, he coauthored a text known simply as "Cotton and Wilkinson".<ref>Cotton, F. A. and Wilkinson, G., "Advanced Inorganic Chemistry", John Wiley and Sons: New York, 1988.</ref>  The book is in its sixth edition in English and has been translated to many languages such as French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Italian, etc. The text surveys coordination chemistry, cluster chemistry, homogeneous catalysis, and organometallic chemistry.  Prior to "Cotton and Wilkinson", instruction in inorganic chemistry was more descriptive, less connected to [[organometallic chemistry|organometallics]], and less focused on molecular structure.<p>
+In addition to his research efforts, Cotton has contributed to the teaching of [[inorganic chemistry]].  He authored "Chemical Applications of Group Theory".<ref>Cotton, F. A., "Chemical Applications of Group Theory," John Wiley & Sons: New York, 1990.</ref>  This text introduced generations of chemists to the group theoretical analysis of [[chemical bond|bonding]] and [[spectroscopy]].  With his Ph.D. advisor, he coauthored a text known colloquially as "Cotton and Wilkinson".<ref>Cotton, F. A. and Wilkinson, G., "Advanced Inorganic Chemistry", John Wiley and Sons: New York, 1988.</ref>  The book is in its sixth edition in English and has been translated to many languages. The text surveys coordination chemistry, cluster chemistry, homogeneous catalysis, and organometallic chemistry.  Prior to the widespread acceptance of "Cotton and Wilkinson" in chemical pedagogy, instruction in inorganic chemistry was more descriptive, less connected to [[organometallic chemistry|organometallics]], and less focused on molecular structure.<p>
-Prof. Cotton's influence in the academic world is vast. He has graduated well over one hundred Ph.D. students, and hundreds of postdoctoral students have performed research under his supervision. Among his distinguished students are professors R. Holm (Harvard U.), C. B. Harris (UC Berkeley), T. J. Marks (Northwestern U.), S. J. Lippard (MIT), R. Walton (Purdue U.), W. Klemperer (UI Urbana-Champagne), J. Fackler (TAMU), etc. Among his distinguished postdoctoral students include B. Bursten (U. Tennessee), K. Dunbar (TAMU), K. Caulton (Indiana U.), etc.
+Cotton has served as a graduate advisor to over one hundred Ph.D. students, and hundreds of postdoctoral students have performed research under his supervision. Among his students are professors R. Holm (Harvard U.), C. B. Harris (UC Berkeley), T. J. Marks (Northwestern U.), S. J. Lippard (MIT), R. Walton (Purdue U.), W. Klemperer (UI Urbana-Champagne), J. Fackler (TAMU), etc.
 ==Recognition==
-Cotton has published over 1600 papers.  He has received many awards, including the [[National Medal of Science]] and the [[American Chemical Society]]'s highest recognition, the [[Priestly Medal]], and the [[Wolf Prize]] among others.
+Cotton has published over 1600 papers.  He has received various awards in the chemical field, including the [[National Medal of Science]] and the [[American Chemical Society]]'s highest recognition, the [[Priestly Medal]], and the [[Wolf Prize]].
 ==See also==