Alessandro Bismuto
Graphical Abstract
“My favorite name theorem is Fermat's last theorem, probably one of the most complicated mathematical challenges of the last four centuries. I also love that he did not provide any demonstration as it would not have fit the margins … The most important quality of a mentor is adaptability—every student is different, and different is the way to them …” Find out more about Alessandro Bismuto in his Introducing… Profile.
Alessandro Bismuto
The author presented on this page has published his first article as a submitting corresponding author in Angewandte Chemie:
“Light-dependent Reactivity of Heavy Pnictogen Double Bonds”: D. Meleschko, P. Palui, R. M. Gomila, G. Schnakenburg, A. C. Filippou, A. Frontera, A. Bismuto, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63,e202405400.
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Position, Location:
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Junior Professor of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Bonn (Germany)
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Homepage:
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ORCID:
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Education:
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2012, Bachelor in Chemistry, University of Naples Federico II (Italy)
2014, Master in Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II (Italy)
2018, PhD with M. J. Cowley and S. P. Thomas, University of Edinburgh (UK)
2018–2021, Postdoc with B. Morandi, ETH Zürich (Switzerland)
2021–2023, Group Leader, Liebig Fellowship, University of Göttingen (Germany)
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Research:
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Main-group chemistry, organometallic chemistry, catalysis, luminescence
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Hobbies:
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Cooking, playing the guitar, gardening, running, playing football
My science “heroes” are Euclid, Marie Curie, Gauss, Werner, Fermi, Feynman.
If I could go back in time and do any experiment, it would be the synthesis of Wilkinson's catalyst.
A turning point in my career was going to the UK to join the CRITICAT CDT for my PhD studies.
Chemistry is fun because it is the closest we can get to magic.
I would have liked to have discovered elemental phosphorous.
My favorite name theorem is Fermat's last theorem, probably one of the most complicated mathematical challenges of the last four centuries. I also love that he did not provide any demonstration as it would have not fit the margins.
I advise my students to always follow their passions, that's the key for me to happiness.
My favorite thing about my group is the warm atmosphere.
The most important quality of a mentor is adaptability—every student is different, and different is the way to them.
I lose track of time when reading a book, or while cooking.
When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a detective.
A good day at work starts with discussing a new experiment with a cup of espresso.
I can never resist enjoying a good meal with friends.
If I could have dinner with a well-known historic figure, I would invite Salvador Dalí, and I would ask him how he came up with his concept of time.
My favorite place on earth is anywhere by the sea.
Behind the Science
Everything started with our move to Bonn and the tradition in pnictogen chemistry connected with the institute of inorganic chemistry. Indeed, in the last thirty years Edgar Niecke had focused his work on the synthesis and reactivity of several compounds containing P=P bonds. Unfortunately, the reactivity decreases dramatically going down the chemical group, with the corresponding heavier analogs being comparably almost inert. The turning point for us was considering Sb=Sb and Bi=Bi compounds simply as heavier analogs of azobenzene. As such, we envisaged that light would have been key to enhance their reactivity.
