Prof. Dr. Peter Comba

Curriculum Vitae

1977
Degree in chemistry (Diplom) ETH Zürich

1980
Teaching diploma ETH Zürich

1981
PhD Université de Neuchâtel

1981-84
Research Fellow, Australian National University, Canberra

1984-86
Premier assistant, Institut de Chimie Minérale et Analytique, Université de Lausanne

1986-92
Lecturer, University of Basel (Habilitation)

1992
Professor (Chair since 2005) University of Heidelberg

1989
Visiting professor at various Universities (1989: ANU and University of Tasmania, Australia; 1995: University of Leiden; 2000: ANU, Australia; 2001: University of Pretoria, South Africa)

2000
Alexander von Humboldt / South Africa Research Award

Since 1997
Various positions in the University administration (Dean, member of the Senate, member of the University Council)

Since 2003
Chairman of the Research Training Group 850 "Molecular Modelling"

2004-07
Vice-rector of Heidelberg University

Fields of Interest

Biological oxygen activation, oxidation catalysis, spectroscopy of high valent metal complexes, reaction mechanisms, molecular magnetism, theoretical and computational chemistry.

Selected Publications (since 2003)

More than 180 publications in top international journals (including 3 books, 23 reviews, 5 patents)

• Atanasov, M.; Comba, P.; Martin, B.; Müller, V.; Rajaraman, G.; Rohwer, H.; Wunderlich, S.: J. Comput. Chem., 2006, 27, 1263: 'DFT models for copper(II) bispidine complexes: Structures, stabilities, isomerism, spin distribution and spectroscopy.
• Atanasov, M.; Comba, P.; Lampeka,Y.; Linti, G.; Malcherek, T.; Miletich, R.; Prikhod`ko, A.; Pritzkow, H.: Chem. Eur., 2006, 12, 737: Encapsulation of cyanometalates by a tris-macrocyclic ligand tricopper(II) complex - syntheses, structural variation and magnetic exchange coupling pathways.
• Comba, P.; Lampeka, Y.; Prikhod´ko, A.; Rajaraman, G.: Inorg. Chem., 2006, 45, 3632: Determination of the solution structures of melamine-based bis and tris(macrocyclic) ligand copper(II) complexes.
• Atanasov, M.; Comba, P.; Daul, C.: J. Phys. Chem. A, 2006, 110, 13332: 'DFT studies on the magnetic exchange across the cyanide bridge.
• Bukowski, M.R.; Comba, P.; Lienke, A.; Limberg, C.; Lopez de Lorden, C.; Mas-Balleste, R. ; Merz, M. ; Que Jr. L. : Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2006, 45, 3446: Catalytic oxidation of olefins in bispidine iron (II)/H2O2 systems.
• Comba, P.; Kuwata, S.; Tarnai, M.; Wadepohl, H.: Chem. Commun., 2006, 2074: CH activitation with cobalt complexes of tetradentate bispidine ligands.
• Born, K.; Comba, P.; Daubinet, A.; Fuchs, A.; Wadepohl, H.: J. Biol. Inorg. Chem., 2007, 12, 36: Catecholase activity of dicopper(II) bispidine complexes: stabilities and structures of intermediates, kinetics and reaction mechanism.
• Comba, P.; Kerscher, M.; Schiek, W.: Progr. Inorg. Chem., 2007, in press: Bispidine coordination chemistry.