Paul Walden

Paul Walden
Paul Walden
Born(1863-07-26)26 July 1863
Died22 January 1957(1957-01-22) (aged 93)
NationalityGerman
Alma materRiga Technical University
Known forWalden inversion
Walden's rule
Ethylammonium nitrate
AwardsGmelin-Beilstein Medal (1954)
Scientific career
InstitutionsUniversity of Rostock

Paul Walden (Latvian: Pauls Valdens; Russian: Павел Иванович Вальден; German: Paul von Walden; 26 July 1863 – 22 January 1957) was a Russian, Latvian and German chemist known for his work in stereochemistry and history of chemistry. In particular, he discovered the Walden rule, he invented the stereochemical reaction known as Walden inversion and synthesized the first room-temperature ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate.