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Richard F. Heck papers

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Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
MSS 0882
Repository:
University of Delaware Library Special Collections
Extent:
  • 2 linear foot (4 boxes)
  • 2 oversize box (2 oversize boxes (18 inch))
  • 5 dvd
Language:
English and Swedish
Preferred Citation:
MSS 0882, Richard F. Heck papers, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.
Date:
1931-2012 (inclusive)
Creator:
Heck, Richard F., American Chemical Society. Delaware Section, Uppsala universitet, and University of Delaware
Abstract:
Richard F. Heck (1931-2015), namesake of the Heck Reaction, was an American chemist awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work with palladium to catalyze organic chemical reactions. The Richard F. Heck papers, 1931-2012, comprise personal documents, photographs, professional honors and citations, publications, and material related to his 2010 Nobel Prize, including his Nobel diploma and a doctoral hat from Uppsala University (2011).

Richard F. Heck (1931-2015), namesake of the Heck Reaction, was an American chemist awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work with palladium to catalyze organic chemical reactions.

Heck was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on August 15, 1931, but his family moved to Los Angeles, California, when he was eight years old. Richard Heck received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles (BS 1952 and PhD 1954). His doctoral work in physical organic chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Saul Winstein was followed by a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

Heck joined the Hercules Powder Co. in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1956, and was prompted by a colleague to "do something with transition metals." The nascent field of organotransition metal chemistry proved to be a worthy direction for Heck's research in "the way you can make all sorts of compounds."

Richard Heck accepted a faculty position in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Delaware in 1971. The research he began in the 1960s resulted in the 1972 publication of "Palladium-catalyzed vinylic hydrogen substitution reactions with aryl, benzyl, and styryl halides" in the

Journal of Organic Chemistry (J. Org. Chem. 37 (14): 2320–2322). This work came to be known as the Heck Reaction, foundational to the future of catalytic organometallic bond forming processes currently in use in modern organic synthesis. The Heck Reaction is also known as the "Mizoroki-Heck Reaction," after Tsutomu Mizoroki, who published about palladium catalyzed carbon coupling in 1971. Heck's 1972 publication acknowledged the 1971 Mizoroki publication but included independently discovered work.

Richard Heck rose to the honor of Willis F. Harrington Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, which he also held as Professor Emeritus after his retirement from the University of Delaware in 1989. Recognition of Heck's contributions to the field of chemistry continued in his retirement. In tribute to his career as a scientific innovator who made "outstanding contributions and advances in industrial applications of chemistry," Heck received the Wallace Carothers Award from the Delaware Section of the American Chemical Society in 2005. The American Chemical Society honored Heck's creative research in synthetic methods in 2006 with the Herbert C. Brown Award. In 2011, he received an honorary doctorate in pharmacy from Uppsala University, as well as an honorary doctorate in science from the University of Delaware. De La Salle University in Manila, the Philippines, bestowed an honorary doctorate of humanities on Richard Heck in 2012.

The pinnacle of these accolades, however, was the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which was given to Heck and fellow laureates Akira Suzuki (Hokkaido University) and Ei-Ichi Negishi (Purdue University) for their pioneering research in palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis.

Richard Heck died on October 9, 2015, in Manila.

"Legacy of Richard Heck," ACS Select virtual issue, accessed December 3, 2018, https://pubs.acs.org/page/vi/heck-legacy?ref=orlef7Feature Richard F. Heck - Biographical. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Media AB 2018, accessed December 5, 2018, https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2010/heck/biographical/ Richard F. Heck publications. Chemistry Tree, accessed December 3, 2018, https://academictree.org/chemistry/publications.php?pid=52395 "Honorary doctors of the Faculty of Pharmacy," Uppsala University, accessed December 3, 2018, https://www.uu.se/en/about-uu/traditions/prizes/honorary-doctorates/pharmacy/

Richard F. Heck (1931-2015), namesake of the Heck Reaction, was an American chemist awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work with palladium to catalyze organic chemical reactions. The Richard F. Heck papers, 1931-2012, comprise personal documents, photographs, professional honors and citations, publications, and material related to his 2010 Nobel Prize, including his Nobel diploma and a doctoral hat from Uppsala University (2011).

Boxes 1-2: Shelved in SPEC MSS mss (upright mss) Box 3: Shelved in SPEC MSS rcc Box 4: Shelved in SPEC v. MSS mss (1 in) Boxes 5-6: Shelved in SPEC MSS osz 18 DVD: Shelved in SPEC MEDIA DVD

Purchase, 2017

Processed and encoded by L.R. Johnson Melvin, December 2018

Subject
Occupation

Publisher
University of Delaware Library Special Collections
Finding Aid Author
University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
Finding Aid Date
2018 December 10
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Richard F. Heck Nobel diploma, copyright The Nobel Foundation, 2010.

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec

Collection Inventory

Certificate for the Sacrament of Holy Baptism administered to Richard Fred Heck, St. Mary's Church, Hagarville, Connecticut, 1931 November 29.
Box 1 Folder F1
Scope and Contents

Signed by parents Frederic A. Heck and Lucile M. Heck; recorded date of birth 1931 August 15.

Elementary school diploma, Los Angeles City School District, Washington Boulevard School, 1945 January 26.
Box 1 Folder F1
High school diploma, Los Angeles City High School District, Susan Miller Dorsey High School , 1948 June 18.
Box 1 Folder F1
Diploma, Richard Fred Heck, Associate in Arts, Los Angeles, University of California , 1951 June 14.
Box 1 Folder F2
Diploma, Richard Fred Heck, Bachelor of Science with a Major in Chemistry, Los Angeles, University of California, 1952 June 19.
Box 1 Folder F2
Diploma, Richard Fred Heck, Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry, Los Angeles, University of California, 1954 August 14.
Box 1 Folder F2
Photograph album, 1931-circa 1977.
Box 1 Folder F3
Scope and Contents

Includes photographs of childhood, travel in California and the West, parents, graduations, colleagues, and career photographs of working in laboratories.

Membership certificate, Richard Fred Heck, Phi Lambda Upsilon Honorary Chemical Society, 1953 June 04.
Box 1 Folder F4
Membership certificate, Richard Fred Heck, The Society of the Sigma Xi, California at Los Angeles Chapter, 1954 June 02.
Box 1 Folder F4
Membership certificate, Richard Fred Heck, The Scientific Research Society of America, Hercules Research Center, 1958 September 15.
Box 1 Folder F4
Richard F. Heck, certificate of appreciation on the occasion of retirement, University of Delaware, 1990 May 10.
Box 1 Folder F5
Richard F. Heck, certificate commemorating the Herbert C Brown Award for Creative Research in Synthetic Methods, American Chemical Society, 2006 March 26.
Box 5 Folder F6
Scope and Contents

Presented at the 231st meeting of the American Chemical Society in Atlanta, Georgia, to Richard F. Heck, University of Delaware (retired), "for the development of palladium-catalyzed bond-forming reactions." (Framed item.)

Richard F. Heck, Glenn T. Seaborg Medal, University of California, Los Angeles, 2011 November 05.
Box 1 Folder F7
Scope and Contents

Presented by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry "for outstanding service to the science of chemistry and biochemistry." Cased object (4.5 x 5.5 inch case).

Richard F. Heck, Certificate, Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science, University of Delaware, 2011 May 28.
Box 6 Folder F8
Republic of the Philippines. Congress of the Philippines. House of Representatives. Resolution No 160 "Expressing deep appreciation and recognition to Professor Richard F. Heck 2010 Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry, for his great achievement in the field of science" , 2011 August 24.
Box 6 Folder F9
Dr. Richard F. Heck, Degree Doctor of Humanities Honoris Causa, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines, 2012 February 04.
Box 1 Folder F10

Issued U.S. patents of R.F. Heck, 1961-1978.
Box 1 Folder F11
Scope and Contents

Note: Includes a checklist of patents issued to R.F. Heck, 1961-1971 and two copies of patents: a) United States Patent Number 3,988,358, Process for the preparation of carboxylic acid esters from organic halides, 1976 October 26. b) United States Patent Number 4,128,554, Process for the preparation of carboxylic acid amides from organic Halides), 1978 December 05.

Heck, Richard Fred, Methoxyl and Aryl Groups in Substitution and Rearrangement: a thesis submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 1954 July.
Box 2 Folder F12
Scope and Contents

Item laid-in: Announcement of the final examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Chemistry, University of California Graduate Division, Southern Section, Friday, July 16, 1954. The program includes an abstract of the dissertation, brief vita, and fields of study with directing faculty.

Heck, R.F., Chien, J.C.W, and Breslow, D.S., "[symbol for Pi]-Allylchloro (Triphenylphosphine Nickel]," [reprint] Chemistry and Industry, pages 986-987, 1961. Research Center, Hercules Power Co., Wilmington, Delaware., 1961.
Box 2 Folder F13
Frontiers in Chemistry. Western Reserve University, 1964.
Box 2 Folder F13
Scope and Contents

Brochure for 23d annual Frontiers in Chemistry lectures at Western Reserve University, Cleveland. Richard F. Heck, Research Chemist at Hercules Powder Company, spoke on February 14, 1964, about "Organometal Carbonyl Reactions."

The Del-Chem Bulletin Vol XXII Number 9, 1966 June.
Box 2 Folder F13
Scope and Contents

Del-Chem Bulletin is published by the Delaware Section of the American Chemical Society. Cover photograph and page 5-6 announce the 1966 Delaware Section Award to Richard F. Heck.

Heck, R.F., "The Mechanism of Arylation and Carboxymethoxylation of Olefins with Organopalladium Compounds," [reprint] Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol 91, pages 6707-6714, 1969 November 19.
Box 2 Folder F13
Heck, R.F., "Decarboalkoxylation of Olefins and Acetylenes,"[reprint] Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol 94, pages 2712-2716, 1972 April 19.
Box 2 Folder F13
Frontiers in Chemistry. Case Western Reserve University, 1972-1973 , 1972.
Box 2 Folder F13
Scope and Contents

Brochure for 32d Frontiers in Chemistry lectures at Case Western University, Cleveland, 1972-73. Richard F. Heck, Professor of Chemistry, University of Delaware, spoke on September 28, 1972, about "Applications of Palladium Compounds in Organic Synthesis."

The Robert A. Welch Foundation Research Bulletin No. 33, 1973 May .
Box 2 Folder F14
Scope and Contents

Bulletin 33 is the program of the Robert A. Welch Foundation Conferences on Chemical Research, XVII. Organic-Inorganic Reagents in Synthetic Chemistry, 1973 November 5-7. R.F. Heck spoke on "Synthesis and Reactions of Palladium-Carbon Compounds."

Heck, Richard F. "Synthesis and Reactions of Palladium-Carbon Compounds," [reprint] Proceedings of The Robert A. Welch Foundation Conferences on Chemical Research, XVII. Organic-Inorganic Reagents in Synthetic Chemistry, 1973 November 05.
Box 2 Folder F14
Heck, Richard F. Organotransition Metal Chemistry: a Mechanistic Approach, New York: Academic Press, 1974.
Box 2 Folder F15
Scope and Contents

A volume in the Organometallic Chemistry series. Publisher's description laid-in the volume.

Heck, Richard F. Palladium Reagents in Organic Synthesis, London: Academic Press, 1985.
Box 2 Folder F16
Scope and Contents

Best Synthetic Methods series.

"Japan lecture 9-98: The Hydroformation Reaction" , 1997-1998 .
Box 2 Folder F17
Scope and Contents

Correspondence and lecture notes (holograph and typescript copies). Letter from Professor Jiro Tsuji, Department of Chemical Technology, Jurashiki University of Science and Arts, Tsurajima, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan; to Dr. Richard Heck, Naples, Florida, with Heck's reply, 1997 October. Dr. Tsuji invited Dr. Heck to participate in two projects. The first was to speak at a symposium on September 11, 1998, in Japan on "Past and Present of Organopalladium Chemistry." The second request was to accept the dedication of a special issue of the

Journal of Organolmetallic Chemistry, which Heck accepted and provided the requested "personal history and research resume" and list of "significant publications of R.F. Heck." The folder also includes paper copies of the overhead transparencies and slide notes for the 1998 presentation.
Link, J. T. and Overman, L. E. (1998), ChemInform Abstract: Intramolecular Heck Reactions in Natural Product Chemistry. ChemInform, 29: no. doi:10.1002/chin.199822206 [photocopy of article], 1998.
Box 2 Folder F18
Vallin, Karl S.A., Regioselective Heck Coupling Reactions Focus on Green Chemistry, Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2003.
Box 2 Folder F19
Scope and Contents

Inscribed to Heck from the author: "To Richard from a Heck fan. Warm regards from Karl."

Royal Swedish Science Academy, Nobel Prize certificate acclaiming Richard F. Heck, Ei-ichi Negishi and Akira Suzuki for palladium-catalyzed cross-connections in organic synthesis, 2010 December 10.
Box 4 Folder F20
Scope and Contents

"Kunglia Svenska Vetenskapapsakademien har den 6 oktober 2010 beslutat att med det nobelpris som detta har tillerkännes den som gjort den viktigaste kemiska upptackten eller forbattringen gemensamt belona Richard F. Heck, Ei-ichi Negishi och Akira Suzuki for palladiumkatalyserade korskopplingar i organisk syntes. Stockholm den 10 December 2010."

Translation: On 6 October 2010, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided that, with the Nobel Prize, this has been awarded to the one who made the most important chemical uptake or reunion jointly acclaiming Richard F. Heck, Ei-ichi Negishi and Akira Suzuki for palladium-catalyzed cross-connections in organic synthesis. Stocklholm, 2010 December 10.

Illustration, Gebbe Björkman; monogram and calligraphy, Annika Rűcker; bookbindery, Knut Hässlers Bokbinden; bookbinder, Ingemar Dackéus

The Nobel Prize Guide 2010: an annual review of the year's Nobel Prizes, presenting the new Nobel Laureates and their achievements. Stockholm: Nobel Media AB, 2010.
Box 2 Folder F21
Andersson & Co. Sweden AB Hattmakeri. Doctoral Hat, Uppsala University, 2011.
Box 3 Folder F22
Scope and Contents

Presented to Richard F. Heck upon the occasion of receiving the honorary doctorate in pharmacy, 2011. Description of hat: black wool crepe with pleated crown and gros-grain ribbon with buckle in the symbol of the pharmacy. Interior label: Andersson and Co Sweden AB Hattmaker. Farmacie Hedersdoktor Professor Richard F. Heck 2011

Nobel Minds – NTSC 16:9, 2010.
Box 2 Folder F23 Item MSS0882_S04_0001
Nobel Laureates – NTSC 16:9, 2010.
Box 2 Folder F23 Item MSS0882_S04_0002
The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony, Stockholm (Swedish version) – PAL 16:9, 2010.
Box 2 Folder F23 Item MSS0882_S04_0003
The Nobel Banquet, Stockholm (full length SVT version) – PAL 16:9, 2010.
Box 2 Folder F23 Item MSS0882_S04_0004
The Nobel Banquet Summary Program, Stockholm, English guide – PAL 16:9, 2010.
Box 2 Folder F23 Item MSS0882_S04_0005

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