Bernd Schaefer studied chemistry in Kaiserslautern and received his PhD for research on metal-catalysed, stereoselective cycloadditions of methylenecyclopropanes to electron-deficient olefins from the Max-Planck-Institut fr Kohlenforschung in Mlheim, Germany. His professional career at BASF covers research and development in the areas of plant protection, pharmaceutical chemistry and fine chemicals. In 2000, Bernd Schaefer was appointed lecturer and in 2009 Honorary Professor at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universitt in Heidelberg. Besides natural product chemistry, his special areas of interest include catalysis and enantioselective synthesis.
This work was carefully translated by David Smith and Bernd Janssen.