Friedrich Hermann Leuchs (8 August 1879 – 2 May 1945) was a German chemist.
Friedrich Hermann Leuchs | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 August 1879 Nürnberg, German Empire |
| Died | 2 May 1945 (aged 65) Berlin, Nazi Germany |
| Alma mater | University of Berlin |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Organic chemistry |
| Doctoral advisor | Emil Fischer |
Life
editLeuchs studied chemistry at the University of Munich from 1898. He transferred to the University of Berlin and received his PhD there in 1902 under Emil Fischer. He steadily advanced in the hierarchy of the university, becoming a lecturer in 1910, assistant professor in 1914, and full professor in 1916. The ministry of education assured him that he would succeed Wilhelm Schlenk as head of the chemistry institute of the University of Berlin, but this never happened. His personality became strongly misanthropic. The Nazi regime, World War II and the destruction of Berlin increased his psychological problems, and shortly before the war ended he committed suicide in his flat in Berlin. This happened most likely on 2 May 1945 (two days after the suicide of Adolf Hitler). He was buried in a mass grave with numerous soldiers and citizens.[1]
Work
editLeuchs's research dealt with the chemistry of amino acids and the chemistry of strychnine. The Leuchs reaction and the Leuchs anhydride were named after him.
References
edit- ^ Kricheldorf, Hans R. (2006). "Polypeptides and 100 Years of Chemistry of α-Amino Acid N-Carboxyanhydrides". Angewandte Chemie. 45 (35): 5752–5784. doi:10.1002/anie.200600693. PMID 16948174.
- Historical notes from the Humboldt-Universität
- Leuchs, Hermann (1906). "Ueber die Glycin-carbonsäure". Chemische Berichte. 39 (1): 857–861. doi:10.1002/cber.190603901133.
- Kröhnke, Fritz (1952). "Hermann Leuchs. 1879–1945". Chemische Berichte. 85 (11): LV–LXXXIX. doi:10.1002/cber.19520851102.