In January 1997, a new "Sonderforschungsbereich" (SFB) was established by the Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 424) at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster. 12 research groups from the Faculty of Natural Sciences started to coordinate their efforts directed towards the topic "Molecular Orientation and Its Functions in Chemical Systems" in close cooperations. Originally, research groups from the Institute of Organic Chemistry (Prof. Erker, Prof. Hoppe, Prof. Redlich, Prof. Schäfer and Prof.
Würthwein), the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry (Prof. Hahn, Prof. Krebs, PD Dr. Krämer and Dr. Tamm), the Institute of Biochemistry (Prof. Galla) and the Institute of Physics (Prof. Fuchs) took an active part in the scientific program. The financial support of the DFG for the first three years period had a volume of € 2.510.000,-
In 1999 the DFG decided to increase the support for the SFB now to € 3.244.000,- for another period of three years (2000 – 2002), including several new research groups from the Institute of Organic Chemistry (Prof. Haufe, Dr. Göttlich, Dr. Waldvogel), the Institute of Biochemistry (Dr. Steinem) and the Institute of Mineralogy (Prof. Putnis). Additionally, in 2000 Prof. Klaffke (Bioorganic Chemistry) and Prof. Grimme (Theoretical Organic
Chemistry) from the Institute of Organic Chemistry joined the Sonderforschungsbereich as new members. The present members of the Sonderforschungsbereich for the third period (2003 – 2005) are recruited from four
institutes of the university.
Institute of Organic Chemistry: Prof. Dr. G. Erker, H.-Doz. Dr. R. Göttlich, Prof. Dr. S. Grimme, Prof. Dr. G. Haufe, Prof. Dr. D. Hoppe (speaker of the SFB), Prof. Dr. H. Redlich, Prof. Dr. H. J. Schäfer, PD Dr. S. R. Waldvogel, Prof. Dr. E.-U. Würthwein, Institute of Inorganic and Analytic Chemistry: Dr. T. Glaser, Prof. Dr. F. E. Hahn, Prof. Dr. B. Krebs, Prof. Dr. N. W. Mitzel (from 2004), PD Dr. A. Rompel. H.-Doz. Dr. M.
Tamm, Institute of Biochemistry: Prof. Dr. H.-J. Galla, Institute of Physics: Prof. Dr. L. Chi, Prof. Dr. H. Fuchs. The financial support of the DFG amounts to € 4.004.000,- for three years. The aim of the Sonderforschungsbereich is to achieve a better understanding of the
influence of the relative orientation of simpler molecules on their mutual interactions, subsequently utilizing the results for developing selective processes. These include stereoselective organic synthesis, design of catalysts, of enzyme-like compounds and, as well, of membranes and other two-dimensional interfaces.
The Sonderforschungsbereich is provided with a budget for supporting more than 25 PhD student positions and for maintaining a program of high quality, such as symposia or individual invitations of distinguished scientists.
The advancement and encouragement of highly qualified young talents is a particular concern of the Sonderforschungbereich.
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