Javier Pérez-Ramírez

Lecture given by 2021 Robert K. Grasselli Award for Catalysis recipient Javier Pérez-Ramírez, introduced by Eva-Maria Hauck-Grasselli and Bert Weckhuysen

The Robert K. Grasselli Award for Catalysis aims to recognize outstanding theoretical and experimental contributions in the field of oxidation catalysis that advance our understanding and practice of catalysis during the last five years prior to the year the award is given. Prof. Pérez-Ramírez is the very first recipient for this prestigious EFCATS award, recognizing him as a world expert in halogen chemistry. His discoveries span diverse reaction types including hydrogen halide oxidations, halogenations, oxyhalogenations, hydrodehalogenations, and halocarbon couplings. These have – quoting the distinguished nominators and evaluators - “generated almost unlimited opportunities for innovation in the direct functionalization of natural gas involving halides” and “led to better ways to make many key building blocks for the manufacture of chemicals, polymers, and fuels”.