Eugen Baumann
Encyclopedia
Eugen Baumann was a German chemist
. He was one of the first people to create polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), and, together with Carl Schotten
, he discovered the Schotten-Baumann reaction
.
. After he attended a gymnasium in Stuttgart, he was educated in the pharmacy of his father. During his time in Stuttgart, he already attended the lectures of Hermann von Fehling
at the University of Stuttgart
. To broaden his education, he went to Lübeck
and Göteborg to work in pharmacies there. Later, he studied pharmacy at the University of Tübingen. He passed his first exam in 1870 and received his PhD in 1872 for work with Felix Hoppe-Seyler. He followed Hoppe-Seyler to the University of Straßburg where did his habilitation
in 1876. The same year, Emil Heinrich Du Bois-Reymond offered him a position as the Head of the Chemistry Department of the Institute of Physiology in Berlin. In 1882, Baumann became professor of medicine at that institute, and subsequently obtained professor position at the University of Freiburg
. From 1883 till his death, Baumann was married to Theresa Kopp the daughter of chemist Hermann Kopp
, and they had five children. Baumann died at the age of 49 due to a heart problem.
. He identified the source for aromatic
compounds in urine being the aromatic amino acid
s, such as tyrosine
. He influenced the organosulfur chemistry by the synthesis of thioacetal
s and thioketal
s. These substances were subsequently used by other scientists, for example for anesthesia
. Together with his coworkers, he was able to prove that thyroxine
was the active ingredient in the thyroid
gland.
During his work at the physiological institute, Baumann, together with Carl Schotten
, discovered a method to synthesize amide
s from amine
s and acid chlorides; this method is still known as the Schotten-Baumann reaction
.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
. He was one of the first people to create polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
(PVC), and, together with Carl Schotten
Carl Schotten
Carl Schotten was a German chemist who, together with Eugen Baumann, discovered the Schotten-Baumann reaction. The Schotten-Baumann reaction is a method to synthesize amides from amines and acid chlorides...
, he discovered the Schotten-Baumann reaction
Schotten-Baumann reaction
The Schotten-Baumann reaction is a method to synthesise amides from amines and acid chlorides:Sometimes the name for this reaction is also used to indicate the reaction between an acid chloride and a alcohol to form an ester...
.
Life
Baumann was born in Cannstadt, which is now part of StuttgartStuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. After he attended a gymnasium in Stuttgart, he was educated in the pharmacy of his father. During his time in Stuttgart, he already attended the lectures of Hermann von Fehling
Hermann von Fehling
Hermann von Fehling was a German chemist, famous as the developer of Fehling's solution used for estimation of sugar.-Biography:...
at the University of Stuttgart
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
. To broaden his education, he went to Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
and Göteborg to work in pharmacies there. Later, he studied pharmacy at the University of Tübingen. He passed his first exam in 1870 and received his PhD in 1872 for work with Felix Hoppe-Seyler. He followed Hoppe-Seyler to the University of Straßburg where did his habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
in 1876. The same year, Emil Heinrich Du Bois-Reymond offered him a position as the Head of the Chemistry Department of the Institute of Physiology in Berlin. In 1882, Baumann became professor of medicine at that institute, and subsequently obtained professor position at the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
. From 1883 till his death, Baumann was married to Theresa Kopp the daughter of chemist Hermann Kopp
Hermann Kopp
Hermann Kopp is a German composer and musician, presently living in Barcelona, Spain.-Biography:After moving to Karlsruhe in 1979 he became a member of the German electro-industrial band Keine Ahnung. In the eighties he released two vinyl records with a sound that can be vaguely classified as...
, and they had five children. Baumann died at the age of 49 due to a heart problem.
Work
The organosulfur compounds of the urine were his starting point into the physiological chemistryPhysiological chemistry
Physiological chemistry is the chemistry of the organs and tissues of the body and of the various physiological processes incident to life. Physiological chemistry is essentially the precursor to modern biochemistry. In the nineteenth century, physiological chemistry dealt primarily with...
. He identified the source for aromatic
Aromaticity
In organic chemistry, Aromaticity is a chemical property in which a conjugated ring of unsaturated bonds, lone pairs, or empty orbitals exhibit a stabilization stronger than would be expected by the stabilization of conjugation alone. The earliest use of the term was in an article by August...
compounds in urine being the aromatic amino acid
Amino acid
Amino acids are molecules containing an amine group, a carboxylic acid group and a side-chain that varies between different amino acids. The key elements of an amino acid are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen...
s, such as tyrosine
Tyrosine
Tyrosine or 4-hydroxyphenylalanine, is one of the 22 amino acids that are used by cells to synthesize proteins. Its codons are UAC and UAU. It is a non-essential amino acid with a polar side group...
. He influenced the organosulfur chemistry by the synthesis of thioacetal
Thioacetal
Thioacetals are the sulfur analogue of acetals. They are prepared in a similar way to acetals: by reacting a thiol with an aldehyde:Dithioacetals are prepared similarly to thioacetals, which are intermediates:...
s and thioketal
Thioketal
In chemistry, a thioketal is the sulfur analogue of a ketal, with one of the oxygen replaced by sulfur. A dithioketal has both oxygens replaced by sulfur.Thioketals can be obtained by reacting ketones or aldehydes with thioles....
s. These substances were subsequently used by other scientists, for example for anesthesia
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, or anaesthesia , traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away...
. Together with his coworkers, he was able to prove that thyroxine
Thyroxine
Thyroxine, or 3,5,3',5'-tetraiodothyronine , a form of thyroid hormones, is the major hormone secreted by the follicular cells of the thyroid gland.-Synthesis and regulation:...
was the active ingredient in the thyroid
Thyroid
The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...
gland.
Schotten-Baumann reaction
During his work at the physiological institute, Baumann, together with Carl Schotten
Carl Schotten
Carl Schotten was a German chemist who, together with Eugen Baumann, discovered the Schotten-Baumann reaction. The Schotten-Baumann reaction is a method to synthesize amides from amines and acid chlorides...
, discovered a method to synthesize amide
Amide
In chemistry, an amide is an organic compound that contains the functional group consisting of a carbonyl group linked to a nitrogen atom . The term refers both to a class of compounds and a functional group within those compounds. The term amide also refers to deprotonated form of ammonia or an...
s from amine
Amine
Amines are organic compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are derivatives of ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent such as an alkyl or aryl group. Important amines include amino acids, biogenic amines,...
s and acid chlorides; this method is still known as the Schotten-Baumann reaction
Schotten-Baumann reaction
The Schotten-Baumann reaction is a method to synthesise amides from amines and acid chlorides:Sometimes the name for this reaction is also used to indicate the reaction between an acid chloride and a alcohol to form an ester...
.