EMIL FISCHER

Famous chemist Richard Fisher Vilshetter considered "do not have equal classicist, master of organic chemistry, both in analysis and in synthesis, and in personal relations are excellent man. " In his honor Germanskoe Chemical Society established a medal of Emil Fischer. A German scientist has created a large scientific school. Among his pupils - O. Diels, A. Windaus, F. Pregl, O. Warburg.

German organic chemist Hermann Emil Fischer was born on 9 October 1852 in Euskirchen, a small town near Cologne, in the family of Lorenz Fisher, a prosperous merchant, and Julia Fischer (nee Poensgen). Before entering the public school and high school Wetzlar Bonn he spent three years worked with a coach. In the spring of 1869 he graduated with honors from the Bonn school.

Although Emil was hoping for an academic career, he agreed to two years to work in his father′s firm, but has shown in the case of so little interest that in the spring of 1871 his father sent him to the University of Bonn. There he attended lectures by a famous chemist Kekulé von Stradonitz, physicist A. Kundt and mineralogist P. Groth. To a large extent influenced by Kekulé von Stradonitz, pays little attention to laboratory work, an interest in chemistry at the Fisher began to weaken, and he reached out to physics.

In 1872, on the advice of his cousin, a chemist, Otto Fischer, he transferred to the University of Strasbourg. In Strasbourg, under the influence of a professor, a young organic chemist Adolf von Baeyer, Fischer has emerged from an interest in chemistry. Soon Fisher dipped in chemical research and was last seen after the discovery of phenylhydrazine (oily liquid used for the determination of dextrose), a substance, which he used later for classification and synthesis of sugars. After receiving his doctorate in 1874 he was appointed lecturer at Strasbourg University.

When the next year, Bayer received the post in the University of Munich, Fisher agreed to become his assistant. Financially independent and free from administrative and teaching duties, Fisher was able to focus all their attention on laboratory studies. In collaboration with his cousin Otto he used phenylhydrazine to examine the substances used in the manufacture of organic dyes derived from coal. Prior research by Fisher chemical structure of these substances was not determined.

The discovery, synthesis and application of phenylhydrazine Fisher later described in his doctoral dissertation. Despite the fact that Fischer for twelve years suffered from the effects of the toxic effect of phenylhydrazine, he called it his "first and longest of chemical attachment. "

In 1878, Emil Fischer was awarded the academic title of associate professor. The next year he was in charge of the analytical department at the University of Munich. At the same time, Emil and Otto Fischer established the structure and rozanilina pararozanilina and have proved their connection with trifenilmetanom, for which proposed a new way - Diazotization paraleykanilina.

In 1882 Emil conducted a systematic investigation of purine group. When processing of organic acids with phosphorus pentachloride were obtained corresponding chlorides, which possess high reactivity and can be easily transformed into derivatives of organic acids. Thus, Fisher managed to get out of trihlorpurin uric acid, and at its subsequent processing of potassium hydroxide and hydrogen iodide - xanthine. When methylation xanthine Fisher received caffeine - a colorless, bitter-tasting crystalline substance contained in coffee beans and tea leaves.

Photo — «Emil Fischer»

The synthesized material was completely identical with natural caffeine, it has the same stimulating effect as the natural product.

Success Fisher gradually became known and gained recognition outside Germany. In 1883 he was invited to head a research laboratory in the company of Baden Aniline and soda factory, with a fantastic annual salary of 100000 marks. However, Fischer rejected this proposal, since it "was . . . attractively . . . academic activities, providing complete freedom for research.

Emil took the offer to take a professorship in Erlangen. On the way to this city, he talked with Professor Jakob von Gerlach and his daughter Agnes. Fischer then and could not have imagined that in late February 1888, Agnes would become his wife. At the end of that year in Fischer son. According to German custom, he was given several names - Hermann Otto Lorenz.

In 1885, Fischer became a professor at Würzburg University. Despite the changes that are made in the lives of the Fisher′s marriage and the birth of the child, intensive research activity did not stop. Developed and improved a number of methods of synthesis and analysis of organic compounds, the great master of the experiment was able to achieve great success.

Study of sugars Fisher and his disciples began in 1884 and continued until 1899-th. By condensation of glyceraldehyde Fischer and Tafel saharoobraznyh a mixture of substances, from which in 1890 with phenylhydrazine isolated alpha-and beta-akrozu.

After synthesis akrozy, staff began to implement Fisher′s complex and multi-step synthesis of natural sugars - mannose, fructose and glucose. These successes have brought to Fischer and international recognition. In 1890, British Chemical Society awarded him the Medal of Davie, a scientific society in Uppsala elected as its member-correspondent. In the same year the German Chemical Society has invited a scientist to speak in Berlin, a report on progress in the synthesis and study of sugars.

As stated in the book "Biographies of the great chemists": "Research shed light on the nature of the structure of sugars monosaccharides. Fisher and other chemists have shown that monosaccharides can be represented as products of oxidation polybasic alcohols. On this basis, can be divided into monosaccharides in the aldose and ketosis. Fischer opened the interaction of sugars with phenylhydrazine and the first to introduce this one of the most important reactions in the chemistry of sugars. This allowed Fisher to explain the spatial structure of monosaccharides and thus to further develop the taxonomy of carbohydrates, deepening at the same time stereochemical representation. Tsiangidrin (oksinitril) scientists used also for its remarkable synthesis of sugars.

Continuing to work with a group of purine compounds, Fischer studied compounds such as caffeine, theobromine (an alkaloid) and components of animal wastes, in particular, uric acid and guanine, which he discovered, is obtained from a colorless crystalline substance he called purines. By 1899, Fischer synthesized a large number of derivatives of purine series, including himself purine (1898). Purine - an important compound in organic synthesis, as it is, as was discovered later, is a necessary component of cell nuclei and nucleic acids.

In 1892, Fisher became the director of the Chemical Institute of Berlin University, and held that post until his death. Scientific achievements inspires Fisher, but more and more depressed family adversity. Boys were often ill, and shortly after the birth of his third son in 1895, his wife died from meningitis.

Photo — «Emil Fischer»

But woe to the scientist did not break. Entrusted the care of the sons of loyal housekeeper and experienced teachers, Fischer threw himself into work. Broadening the scope of the study of sugars to enzymes, he discovered that the enzymes react only with substances with which they have a chemical affinity. Through research with the squirrels, he found the number of amino acids that make up the majority of proteins, as well as the relationship between different amino acids.

In 1902, Fischer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry "in recognition of his special merits associated with the experiments on the synthesis of substances with a saccharide and purine groups. " Opening Fischer gidrazinovyh derivatives, as it turned out, was a brilliant solution to the problem of obtaining sugars and other compounds artificially. Moreover, its method of synthesis of glycosides has made some contribution to the development of plant physiology. Speaking about the research of sugars, Fisher in his Nobel lecture, stated that "gradually the veil, through which to conceal the nature of their secrets, was ajar in matters relating to carbohydrates. Despite this, the chemical riddle of life can not be solved until until organic chemistry to explore other, more complex subject - proteins.

Continuing to study the structure of proteins, Fisher synthesized peptides (combinations of amino acids) and classified more than forty types of proteins, based on the number and types of amino acids formed by hydrolysis (the chemical process of destruction, which includes the splitting of the chemical bond and the associated elements of water). In 1907, the scientist got oktadekapeptid synthetically constructed from molecules of eighteen different amino acids.

In the last years of his life except protein Fischer studied tanning substances and depsidy - efiroobraznye combining two molecules of aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids.

His discovery scientist to perfect several monographs: "Studies of amino acids" (1906), "Introduction to the manufacture of organic products" (1906), "Investigation of carbohydrates and enzymes" (1909-1919), "Polypeptides and Proteins" (1919 ).

In 1912 the German Chemical Society established a medal of Emil Fischer, who once in two years is awarded to scientists for outstanding research in organic chemistry. In the same year for the research work of Fisher in Berlin-Dahlem, was built the world′s largest chemical laboratory. In 1914 he received the equipment for the establishment of the Institute of Coal Research in Mülheim Kaiser Wilhelm.

Since the beginning of World War I came to Fisher′s difficult days: the three sons survived only one - the eldest son Herman, who became Professor of Biochemistry, University of California at Berkeley.

By personal experience joined the difficulties with the research activities: working in the lab was suspended because of the fact that not enough chemicals. Serious, incurable disease is increasingly made itself felt, and took away their last forces. After prolonged contact in the laboratory with phenylhydrazine at Fisher formed chronic eczema, and gastrointestinal disorders. Fischer is clearly aware of what awaits him, but he was not afraid of death. He calmly put in order all his affairs, has finished work on the manuscripts, and for him to complete his autobiography, though not wait for its publication. Emil Fischer died July 15, 1919.