Robert Neville Haszeldine. 3 May 1925—13 October 2016

Abstract

Robert Neville Haszeldine was particularly associated with fluorine chemistry. He did outstanding synthetic work on inorganic and organic fluorocarbon derivatives, including fluoroalkyl Grignard and lithium reagents; fluoroalkyl derivatives of mercury, phosphorus, nitrogen and sulphur; fluoroalkyl silicones; fluoro-olefins; and hexafluorobenzene, pentafluoropyridine and their derivatives. He also made major contributions to the study of free-radical addition reactions and developed new routes to carbenes. He discovered a new class of polymers by copolymerizing a nitroso-compound with an olefin or fluoro-olefin to give the –N–O–C–C– repeating unit. His research revealed a mastery of modern ideas on the mechanism of organic and inorganic reactions coupled with outstanding experimental skill and originality. His work yielded over 500 publications, plus more than 150 patents concerning industrial applications of fluorocarbons, and he was awarded several medals. As head of chemistry at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) he developed a world-class fluorine research group and oversaw a new building for the department, which became one of the largest in the UK. Later, as principal of UMIST, he instigated academic developments just before the government severely cut university funding and imposed full-cost fees for overseas students, drastically reducing UMIST's income. His crisis plan for budget cuts proved divisive, and he took early retirement, citing intolerable financial pressures on UMIST. Initially, he continued with consultancy; later, he became deeply involved with his local community, and created a garden that received local and national recognition, including a plant variety named after him.