Michael C. DeSimone

Michael C. DeSimone
Name	Michael C. DeSimone
Fields	Chemical engineering; Materials science; Polymer chemistry
Workplaces	DuPont; University of Delaware; ConocoPhillips; Air Products and Chemicals
Alma mater	University of Pennsylvania; Princeton University
Known for	Fluorous chemistry; Fluorous biphasic catalysis; Fluorinated surfactants
Awards	Perkin Medal; American Chemical Society awards

Michael C. DeSimone is an American chemical engineer and polymer chemist noted for pioneering work in fluorous chemistry, fluorous biphasic catalysis, and the development of fluorinated surfactants and materials. His research bridged industrial practice at corporations such as DuPont and ConocoPhillips with academic collaborations involving the University of Delaware and Princeton University. DeSimone's inventions and publications influenced separations science, green chemistry initiatives, and advanced materials for electronics and pharmaceuticals.

Early life and education

DeSimone completed undergraduate and graduate studies at institutions including the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University, where he studied chemical engineering, polymer science, and organic chemistry under advisors with ties to industrial research. During his doctoral and postdoctoral training he worked alongside researchers connected to DuPont and AT&T Bell Laboratories-era polymer science programs, building expertise in fluorinated polymers, surfactants, and phase-separation techniques. His early exposure included interactions with scientists from Dow Chemical Company, 3M, and academic groups at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology that shaped his fluorous-chemistry focus.

Career

DeSimone held research and leadership roles at major industrial laboratories, including long-term positions at DuPont and later at ConocoPhillips and Air Products and Chemicals. He collaborated with academic partners at the University of Delaware and consulting networks linked to ExxonMobil and Shell research programs. DeSimone's career involved managing projects spanning catalysis scale-up, specialty chemical commercialization, and materials for microelectronics used by firms such as Intel and IBM. He also interfaced with standards and regulatory organizations similar to the American Chemical Society, Society of Chemical Industry, and international consortia on fluorinated-chemistry stewardship.

Research and contributions

DeSimone advanced fluorous chemistry by developing methods for fluorous tagging, fluorous-phase separations, and fluorous biphasic catalysis that enabled facile isolation of organometallic catalysts and organic products. His work connected to prior foundations laid by researchers associated with American Chemical Society symposia and fluorous chemistry pioneers at institutions like University of Wisconsin–Madison and University of California, Berkeley. DeSimone's contributions included novel fluorinated surfactants and amphiphiles that impacted emulsion polymerization used in technologies from Pfizer pharmaceutical formulations to coatings employed by General Electric and BASF. He authored studies addressing interactions between fluorinated polymers and perfluoroalkyl substances, relevant to environmental discussions involving agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and standards bodies in European Union states.

In materials science, DeSimone developed fluorinated block copolymers and perfluorinated electrolyte membranes with potential applications in fuel cells and electronics, aligning with research priorities at National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. His process innovations improved continuous separations and recycling of homogeneous catalysts, resonating with green-chemistry agendas championed by groups like the Green Chemistry Institute and research programs funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.

Awards and recognitions

For his technical and commercial impact, DeSimone received awards and honors from professional societies and industrial consortia, including recognition akin to medals granted by the American Chemical Society and honors from the Society of Chemical Industry. Industry trade associations and patent lists highlighted his leadership in fluorinated-materials innovation, paralleling accolades often given by Chemical Heritage Foundation (now Science History Institute) and regional engineering societies. His patents and high-impact publications were frequently cited by collaborations involving University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and corporate R&D departments at DuPont and BASF.

Personal life

Details of DeSimone's personal life, including family and residence, have been kept private in public records and professional profiles. He has been active in mentoring early-career researchers and maintaining collaborative ties with academic laboratories at Princeton University and University of Delaware, as well as participating in conferences organized by American Institute of Chemical Engineers and American Chemical Society divisions.

Selected publications and patents

Selected writings and intellectual property attributed to DeSimone include peer-reviewed articles in journals commonly frequented by researchers from Journal of the American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, and Macromolecules, and patents covering fluorous reagents, surfactants, and separation processes. Representative topics listed in bibliographies and patent databases include: - Fluorous-phase ligands and catalysts enabling facile separation of homogeneous catalysts used in coupling reactions relevant to pharmaceutical companies such as Merck and GlaxoSmithKline. - Fluorinated surfactants for emulsion polymerization applied to coatings and adhesives marketed by firms like AkzoNobel and PPG Industries. - Perfluorinated membrane materials and electrolyte compositions investigated for fuel-cell research at facilities such as National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory.

Category:American chemical engineers Category:Polymer scientists and engineers