Heinrich Hubert Maria Josef Houben
Encyclopedia
Heinrich Hubert Maria Josef Houben (born 27. October 1875 in Waldfeucht
(Rheinland) Germany
, died 28. June 1940 in Tübingen) was a German
chemist. He made achievements within ketone synthesis, terpene
s, and camphor
studies. After being wounded several times on the front lines in World War I
, Houben was made head of the war laboratory. He improved the Hoesch reaction which is now normally called Houben-Hoesch reaction. Houben organized and made a major rework of the book Methods of Organic Chemistry which is now referred to as Houben-Weyl Methods of Organic Chemistry
.
and changed his subjects from mathematics and astronomy to chemistry under the influence of August Kekulé. He received his ph.D. for work with Julius Bredt
in 1898. After some time at the University of Aachen and University of Bonn
Houben joined the laboratory of Emil Fischer
at the University of Berlin. After his habilitation in 1908 he stayed in Berlin until the beginning of World War I
. Houben served in the army and after being wounded several times he became head of the war laboratory. After the war Houben became professor at the Biologische Reichsanstalt in Berlin Dahlem in 1921, a position he held until his forced retirement in 1933. Houben died din Tübingen in 1940.
Waldfeucht
Waldfeucht is a municipality in the district Heinsberg, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated on the border with the Netherlands, approx. 15 km south of Roermond and 8 km west of Heinsberg.-External links:*...
(Rheinland) Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, died 28. June 1940 in Tübingen) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
chemist. He made achievements within ketone synthesis, terpene
Terpene
Terpenes are a large and diverse class of organic compounds, produced by a variety of plants, particularly conifers, though also by some insects such as termites or swallowtail butterflies, which emit terpenes from their osmeterium. They are often strong smelling and thus may have had a protective...
s, and camphor
Camphor
Camphor is a waxy, white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor. It is a terpenoid with the chemical formula C10H16O. It is found in wood of the camphor laurel , a large evergreen tree found in Asia and also of Dryobalanops aromatica, a giant of the Bornean forests...
studies. After being wounded several times on the front lines in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Houben was made head of the war laboratory. He improved the Hoesch reaction which is now normally called Houben-Hoesch reaction. Houben organized and made a major rework of the book Methods of Organic Chemistry which is now referred to as Houben-Weyl Methods of Organic Chemistry
Houben-Weyl Methods of Organic Chemistry
Houben-Weyl Methods of Organic Chemistry, established in 1909 by the German chemist Theodor Weyl, is a classic chemistry text. It consisted initially of two volumes and covered literature published as early as 1834. Heinrich J. Houben revised and reissued it in 1913...
.
Life
Houben studied at the University of BonnUniversity of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
and changed his subjects from mathematics and astronomy to chemistry under the influence of August Kekulé. He received his ph.D. for work with Julius Bredt
Julius Bredt
Julius Bredt was a German organic chemist. He was the first to determine, in 1893, the correct structure of camphor. Bredt also discovered that a double bond cannot be placed at the bridgehead of a bridged ring system, a statement now known as Bredt's rule.- Further reading :...
in 1898. After some time at the University of Aachen and University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
Houben joined the laboratory of Emil Fischer
Emil Fischer
Emil Fischer may refer to:* Emil Fischer , German dramatic basso* Franz Joseph Emil Fischer , German chemist, worked with oil and coal* Hermann Emil Fischer , German Nobel laureate in chemistry...
at the University of Berlin. After his habilitation in 1908 he stayed in Berlin until the beginning of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Houben served in the army and after being wounded several times he became head of the war laboratory. After the war Houben became professor at the Biologische Reichsanstalt in Berlin Dahlem in 1921, a position he held until his forced retirement in 1933. Houben died din Tübingen in 1940.