Heinz Falk

Heinz Falk (born April 29, 1939, in Sankt Pölten, Lower Austria) is professor emeritus for organic chemistry at Johannes Kepler University of Linz and editor of "Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Compounds".Springer Wien/New York, Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Compounds His research is focused on structural analysis, synthesis, stereochemistry and photochemistry of plant and animal photosensitizing and photosensory pigments, such as hypericin.Hypericin Group at the Institute of Organic Chemistry

Biography

Early life Heinz Falk was born April 29, 1939, in Sankt Pölten, Austria, went to elementary school in Statzendorf and completed middle school in Krems an der Donau. After moving to Vienna in 1953 he completed a three-year program at HBLVA for Chemical Industry, Rosensteingasse and completed his high-school diploma in 1959 through classes at an evening school, where he met his future wife, Rotraud Falk (née Strohbach).

Marriage and children Heinz Falk is married to Rotraud Falk since 1966 and they have one son: Alexander Falk (August 13, 1967) is the CEO of Altova.

Education Heinz Falk studied chemistry at the University of Vienna starting in 1959 and completed his dissertation under his doctoral advisor, Karl Schlögl, in 1966. In 1971 Falk spent a year abroad to study at ETH Zürich. Upon his return to Vienna in 1972 he attained habilitation for organic chemistry at the University of Vienna.

Career 1966-1979: University of Vienna Starting in 1966 Falk was an assistant at the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Vienna. In 1975 he was promoted to associate professor of physical organic chemistry at the University of Vienna. In the summer of 1978 Falk was invited to speak at the Gordon Research Conference in Wolfeboro. 1979–present: Johannes Kepler University of Linz In 1979 Falk received a call to become full professor of organic chemistry at Johannes Kepler University of Linz, where he founded the new Institute of Organic Chemistry. From 1989 through 1991 he was elected Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (TNF) at Johannes Kepler University of Linz. In 2005 Falk was ranked #3 among the "Top 10" scientists in Upper Austria by the newspaper "OÖ Nachrichten". In 2008 he retired as Professor emeritus at the Institute of Organic chemistry of the JKU.

Research interests Falk's main research area is the structural analysis, synthesis, stereochemistry and photochemistry of plant and animal photosensitizing and photosensory pigments. The main group of compounds covered in his work are pigments derived from the fundamental phenanthro[1,10,9,8-opqra]perylene-7,14-dione chromophore with natural pigments like hypericin, stentorin, the fringelites, the gymnochromes, and blepharismin. In addition, he is focusing on hemin-analogous corrphycene derivatives (e.g. as potential blood substitutes and heme oxygenase blocker) as well as on other natural compounds such as the natural sun blocker urocanic acid. Furthermore, research on applied problems of industrial relevance, like oxidation, ozonization, non natural amino acids and catalysis have been pursued.

Published works

Books

Scientific articles H. Marko, N. Müller und H. Falk, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Investigations of the Biliverdin/Apomyoglobin Complex. Eur. J. Biochem. 193, 573 (1990) H. Falk, H. Marko, N. Müller, W. Schmitzberger und H. Stumpe, Reconstitution of Apomyoglobin with Bile Pigments. Monatsh. Chem. 121, 893 (1990) H. Falk, H. Marko, N. Müller und W. Schmitzberger, On the Chemistry of Pyrrole Pigments 87.Mitt.: The Apomyoglobin Heme Pocket as a Reaction Vessel in Bile Pigment Chemistry. Monatsh. Chem. 121, 903 (1990) H. Falk und H. Marko, Reduction of a Bilindione-10-Thiol-Adduct as a Model for the Reduction Step of the Biliverdin Reductase System. Monatsh. Chem. 122, 319 (1991) U. Wagner, C. Kratky, H. Falk und H. Woess, Crystal Structure and Conformation of 10-Aryl-bilatrienes-abc. Monatsh. Chem. 122, 749 (1991) H. Falk und G. Schoppel, A Synthesis of Emodin Anthrone. Monatsh. Chem. 122, 739 (1991) H. Falk and W. Schmitzberger, On the Nature of "Soluble" Hypericin in Hypericum Species. Monatsh. Chem., 123, 731 (1992) H. Falk and D. Hemmer, On the Chemistry of Pyrrole Pigments, 88. Mitt.: Nonlinear Optical Properties of Linear Oligopyrroles. Monatsh. Chem. 123, 779 (1992) H. Falk and G. Schoppel, On the Synthesis of Hypericin by Oxidative Trimethylemodin Anthrone and Emodin Anthrone Dimerization: Isohypericin. Monatsh. Chem. 123, 931 (1992) H. Falk and W. Schmitzberger, On the Bromination of Hypericin: The Gymnochrome Chromophores. Monatsh. Chem. 124, 77 (1993) C. Etzlstorfer, H. Falk, N. Müller, W. Schmitzberger and U. Wagner, Tautomerism and Stereochemistry of Hypericin: Force Field, NMR, and X-ray Crystallographic Investigations. Monatsh. Chem., 124, 751 (1993) H. Falk and A. Suste, On the Chemistry of Pyrrole Pigments, XC: Pyridinologous Linear Tri- and Tetrapyrroles. Monatsh. Chem., 124, 881 (1993) H. Falk, J. Meyer and M. Oberreiter, A Convenient Semisynthetic Route to Hypericin. Monatsh. Chem., 124, 339 (1993) C. Etzlstorfer and H. Falk, Tautomerism and Stereochemistry of Isohypericin, Bromo-hypericines, and Gymnochromes: Force Field Investigations. Monatsh. Chem., 124, 1031 (1993) H. Pschierer, J. Friedrich, H. Falk and W. Schmitzberger, On the Correlation Between Pressure Shift and Solvent Shift: A Spectral Hole Burning Study. J. Phys. Chem., 97, 6902 (1993) A. Angerhofer, H. Falk, J. Meyer and G. Schoppel, The Lowest Triplet States of Hypericin and Isohypericin. J. Photochem. Photobiol., B20, 133 (1993) H. Falk and A. Suste, On the Chemistry of Pyrrole Pigments, XCI: Copper Complexes of Pyridinologous Linear Tri- and Tetrapyrroles as Cyclopropanation Catalysts. Monatsh. Chem., 125, 325 (1994) H. Falk and J. Meyer, On the Homo- and Heteroassociation of Hypericin. Monatsh. Chem., 125, 753 (1994) C. Etzlstorfer and H. Falk, Stereochemistry and Tautomerism of Stentorin, Isostentorin, and Fringelit D: Force Field Investigations. Monatsh. Chem., 125, 955 (1994) H. Falk, E. Mayr and A. Richter, Simple Diffuse Reflectance UV-Vis Spectroscopic Determination of Organic Pigments (Fringelites) in Fossils. Microchim. Acta, 117, 1 (1994) H. Falk and J. Leimhofer, Ozone as an Oxygen Source for Alkene Ene-Reactions. Monatsh. Chem., 126, 85 (1995) Q.-Q. Chen, H. Falk and R. Micura, On the Chemistry of Pyrrole Pigments, XCII: Syntheses of 1,2-Bis-pyrrolylethanes. Monatsh. Chem., 126, 473 (1995) H. Falk, C. Kratky, N. Müller, W. Schmitzberger and U. Wagner, Structure Determination of the Biliverdin Apomyoglobin Complex. Crystal Structure Analysis of Two Crystal Forms at 1.4 and 1.5 * Resolution. J. Mol. Biol., 247, 326 (1995) N. H. Tran-Thi and H. Falk, An Efficient Synthesis of the Plant Growth Hormone 1-Triacontanol. Monatsh. Chem., 126, 565 (1995) H. Falk and A. F. Vaisburg, Concerning the Absorption and Emission Properties of Phenanthro [1,10,9,8,o,p,q,r,a]perylene-7,14-dione. Monatsh. Chem., 126, 361 (1995) H. Falk and E. Mayr, Syntheses and Properties of Fringelite D (1,3,4,6,8,10,11,13-octahydroxy-phenanthro[1,10,9,8,o,p,q,r,a]perylene-7,14-dione). Monatsh. Chem., 126, 699 (1995) H. Falk, A.F. Vaisburg and A.M. Amer, On the Synthesis of w-Appended Hypericin Derivatives. Monatsh. Chem., 126, 993 (1995) R. Altmann and H. Falk, On the Syntheses and Chiroptical Properties of the Tri- and Tetragalloylquinic Acids. Monatsh. Chem. 126, 1225 (195) D. Shemin and H. Falk, Porphyrins and Bile Pigmens, Metabolism Encyclopedia of Human Biology, 2nd Ed., Academic Press, 177 (1996) H. Falk and Q.-Q. Chen, On the Chemistry of Pyrrole Pigments, XCVI: An Efficient Synyhesis of Corrphycenes. Mh. Chem., 127, 69 (1996) H. Falk and E. Mayr, Syntheses, Constitutions, and Properties of Stentorin and Isostentorin. Mh. Chem., 126, 1311 (1995) H. Falk and T.N.H. Tran, Synthesis and Properties of an w,wÕ - Appended Eighteen Carbon Chains Hypericin Derivative. Mh. Chem., 127, 717 (1996) C. Etzlstorfer, H. Falk, N. Müller and T.N.H. Tran, Structural Aspects and Electronic Absorption of the Hydroxyphenanthroperylene Quinones Fringelit D, Hypericin, and Stentorin. Mh. Chem., 127, 659 (1996) C. Etzlstorfer, H. Falk, E. Mayr and S. Schwarzinger, Concerning the Acidity and Hydrogen Bonding of Hydroxyphenantroperylene Quinones, like Fringelite D, Hypericin, and Stentorin. Mh. Chem., 127,1229 (1996) R. Altmann, C. Etzlstorfer and H. Falk, Chiroptical Properties and Absolute Configurations of the Hypericin Chromophore Propeller Enantiomers. Mh. Chem., 128, 785 (1997) H. Falk and M. Stanek, Two-Dimensional 1H and 13C NMR Spectroscopy and the Structural Aspects of Amylose and Amylopectin. Mh. Chem., 128, 777 (1997) H. Falk, A.A.O. Sarhan, H.T.N. Tran and R. Altmann, Synthesis and Properties of Hypericins Substituted with Acidic and Basic Residues: Hypericin Tetrasulfonic Acid – a Water Soluble Hypericin Derivative. Mh. Chem., 129, 309 (1998) E.I. Kapinuns, H. Falk and T.N.H. Tran, Spectroscopic Investigation of the Molecular Structures of Hypericin and its Salts. Mh. Chem., 130, 1237 - 1244 (1999) A.M. Amer, H. Falk, H.N.T. Tran, The Dissociation and Tautomerization Equilibria of Hypericin: Alkyl Protected Hydroxyl Derivatives. Mh. Chem., 130, 623 - 635 (1999) R. Obermüller, G. Schütz, H. Gruber and H. Falk, Concerning Regioselective Photochemical Intermolecular Proton Transfer from Hypericin. Mh. Chem., 130, 275 - 281 (1999) G. Kada, H. Falk and H. Gruber, Accurate Measurement of Avidin and Streptavidin in Crude Biofluids with a New, Optimized Biotin. Fluorescein Conjugate. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1427, 33 - 43 (1999) C. Etzlstorfer, I Gutman and H. Falk, Concerning the Deprotonation of the Photooxidized 3-Hypericinate Ion. Mh. Chem., 130, 1333 - 1339 (1999) T. Dax, H. Falk and E. Kapinus, A Structural Proof for the Hypericin 1,6-Dioxo Tautomer. Mh. Chem., 130, 827 - 831 (1999) H. Falk, Gosau Schleifsteine fuer den Fossiliensammler. Fossilien, 4, 248 - 250 (1999) H. Falk, Vom Photosensibilisator Hypericin zum Photorezeptor Stentorin - die Chemie der Phenanthroperylenchinone. Angew. Chemie, 111, 3306 - 3326 (1999) H. Falk, From the Photosensibilisator Hypericin to the Photoreceptor Stentorin - the Chemistry of the Phenanthroperylene Quinones. Angew. Chemie Int. Ed., 38, 3134 - 3154 (1999) S. Baumgartner, T. Dax, W. Praznik and H. Falk, Characterization of the high-molecular weight fructan isolated from garlic (Allium sativum L.). Carbohydrate Res., 328, 177-183 (2000) C. Etzlstorfer and H. Falk, Concerning the Association of Hypericin Tautomers and their Hypericinate Ions. Mh. Chem., 131, 333-340 (2000) T. Dax, E. Kapinus and H. Falk, A Remarkable Photoreaction of 3-O-Benzylhypericin. Helvetica Chimica Acta, 83, 1744-1752 (2000) B. Immitzer, C. Etzlstorfer, R. Obermüller, M. Sonnleitner, G. Schütz, and H. Falk, On the Photochemical Proton Expulsion Capability of Fringelite D — A Model of the Protist Photosensory Pigments of the Stentorin and Blepharismin Types. Mh. Chem., 131, 1039-1045 (2000) T. Dax, C. Etzlstorfer, and H. Falk, On the Ground State Energy Hypersurface of Blepharismins and Oxyblepharismins. Mh. Chem., 131, 1115-1122 (2000) B. Immitzer and H. Falk, Fringelite D, a Model of the Protist Photosensory Pigments of the Stentorin and Blepharismin Types: the Hypericin and Fringelite D Photosensitized Destruction of Bilirubin. Mh. Chem., 131, 1167-1171 (2000) T. Dax and H. Falk, An Unusual Photoreaction of 3,4,-Di-O-benzyl-hypericin. Mh. Chem., 131, 1217-1219 (2000) E. Delaey, R. Obermüller, I. Zupko, H. Falk, and P. de Witte, In vitro Study of the Photocytotoxicity of some Hypericin analogs on different Cell Lines. Photochem. Photobiol., 74, 164-171 (2001) R.A. Obermüller, K. Hohenthanner, and H. Falk, Towards Hypericin-Derived Potential Photdynamic Therapy Agents. Photochem. Photobiol., 74, 211-215 (2001)