Neil Bartlett (1932–2008)

Neil Bartlett passed away unexpectedly at the beginning of August this year. He was 75. His name is inextricably linked with the discovery and emergence of noble gas chemistry in 1962. As we know, L. Pauling postulated the existence of noble gas compounds in the 1930s and stuck to this belief for decades before finally withdrawing it in 1961. One year later, Neil Bartlett synthesized the first xenon compound, XePtF6.1 The irony of this discovery is that the nature of that first xenon compound has not yet been resolved. In a survey, the reaction of xenon with platinum hexafluoride was voted as one of the ten best experiments in the history of chemistry, which is perhaps an achievement worthy of a Nobel Prize. After the discovery of XePtF6, it took a matter of only weeks and months to isolate the noble gas compounds—XeF2, XeF4, XeF6, XeO3, and KrF2—that appear in textbooks today. Neil Bartlett's discovery spawned remarkable flurry of creative activity. Another major achievement should also not be forgotten, namely the synthesis of the first pentavalent gold complex in 1972.2 In these decades, it is rare for an experimentally active chemist with a conspicuously short publication list to achieve so much. His entry into chemistry was not easy. He was born in Newcastle and completed his studies in chemistry at King's College in Durham (UK). He believed, possibly correct as it turned out, that he would be better able to advance his carrier in the new world, and moved to the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where he performed the successful reaction of xenon with PtF6. He became famous overnight. He then took up a position at Princeton and later at the University of California in Berkeley. He was always skeptical of the hectic science industry there, and he remained true to the European culture at heart. Thus, he preserved an interest in European history, and in particular his knowledge of all facets of German history was amazing. He always remained the British gentleman. If he had to listen to a nonsensical opinion, rather than giving a commensurate response, he would simply say “Are you really sure about this?”. The person, not having understood the intimation, would then often respond “yes”. It was to be expected that he was overwhelmed with honors, and he indeed simply rejected several offers. To the end, he was a very aware and intelligent observer, even ten years after the end of his experimental work. He was a role model regarding quality and creativity for us all, which his colleagues, especially in fluorine chemistry, will now miss. Neil Bartlett leaves behind a wife, four children, and five grandchildren.

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