Adolf von Baeyer: Winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry 1905

Abstract

The 100th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry to Adolf von Baeyer (1835–1912) is drawing to a close. Nevertheless, his scientific work, especially that on organic dyes, C‐nitroso compounds, and on hydroaromatic compounds have had and continue to have a profound effect on chemistry and on the chemical industry.

Chemophobia cured by chemists: chemists as children of the Sun

“…Thus, he is still saving hundreds of millions of lives today [ 48 ]. German organic chemist Adolf von Bayer (1835–1917, 1905 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry) synthesized barbituric acid, the parent compound of the barbiturates [ 49 , 50 ]. They are a numerous family of hypnotics that help many people overcome sleeping disorders, as well as drugs used in the treatment of epileptic seizures.…”

“…• Dutch physician and chemist Herman Boerhaave (1668-1738) was one of the first to deal with diagnostics based on chemical analysis of urine, which enabled effective treatments for numerous diseases to be found, e.g., diabetes, and thus to help many human beings [41,42]. • 1905 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry) synthesized barbituric acid, the parent compound of the barbiturates [49,50]. They are a numerous family of hypnotics that help many people overcome sleeping disorders, as well as drugs used in the treatment of epileptic seizures.…”

Selective Reduction of Barbituric Acids Using SmI2/H2O: Synthesis, Reactivity, and Structural Analysis of Tetrahedral Adducts

“…Since the 1864 landmark discovery by Adolf von Baeyer, [1] barbituric acids have played a prominent role in medicine and organic synthesis. The barbituric acid scaffold occurs in more than 5000 pharmacologically active compounds, including commonly used anticonvulsant, hypnotic, and anticancer agents (Figure 1 a).…”

Synthesis of 2-C-Branched Sugars

“…The resulting anionic species then complexes to the phase transfer catalyst (a quaternary ammonium salt) which allows its transfer from the aqueous phase to the organic phase, where decomposition of the anion generates the dichlorocarbene. The carbene is then trapped by the alkene (5), producing the cyclopropane (6), which can be isolated as it resides in the organic layer, unexposed to the harsh basic aqueous conditions that could cause ring opening and other side reactions. 18…”

“…The direction of the attraction can experience a deviation that will, however, cause an increase in strain correlating with the degree of this deviation." 4 Translated by Armin de Meijere 5 Cyclopropane (Figure 1.1A) contains angles of 60 • between the carbon atoms, a significant deviation from the 109 • for an ideal tetrahedron. von Baeyer's statement above implies that cyclopropane contains significant ring strain which helps explain its propensity to undergo ring opening reactions.…”