Theodor Curtius
Encyclopedia
Geheimrat Professor Dr. Julius Wilhelm Theodor Curtius (27 May 1857 — 8 February 1928) was professor of Chemistry at Heidelberg University and elsewhere. He published the Curtius rearrangement
in 1890/1894 and also discovered diazoacetic acid, hydrazine
and hydrazoic acid
.
in the Ruhr area in Germany
. He studied chemistry with Robert Bunsen
at Heidelberg University and with Hermann Kolbe at Leipzig University. He received his doctorate in 1882 in Leipzig.
After working from 1884 to 1886 for Adolf von Baeyer
at the University of Munich, Curtius became the director of the analytical chemistry department at University of Erlangen
until 1889. Then he accepted the chair in Chemistry at the University of Kiel
, where he remained very studious, writing numerous articles and publications. In line with this success, Curtius was appointed Geheim Regierungsrat
(Privy Councillor) in 1895. After a one-year appointment as the successor of the famous Friedrich Kekulé
at Bonn University in 1897, Curtius succeeded Victor Meyer as Professor of Chemistry at his old university in Heidelberg, in 1898, where he remained until his retirement in 1926. He was succeeded by Karl Freudenberg, who wrote Curtius' biography in 1962.
In his free time, he also composed music, sang in concerts, and was an active mountaineer. In 1894 he founded the Kiel section of the Association of German and Austrian Alpinists, which he personally supported with gifts. In his Munich time, he became close friend with alpinist guide Christian Klucker
, with whom he made mountaineering hikes for many years after.
Theodor Curtius died in Heidelberg.
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Curtius rearrangement
The Curtius rearrangement , as first defined by Theodor Curtius, is a chemical reaction that involves the rearrangement of an acyl azide to an isocyanate. Several reviews have been published....
in 1890/1894 and also discovered diazoacetic acid, hydrazine
Hydrazine
Hydrazine is an inorganic compound with the formula N2H4. It is a colourless flammable liquid with an ammonia-like odor. Hydrazine is highly toxic and dangerously unstable unless handled in solution. Approximately 260,000 tons are manufactured annually...
and hydrazoic acid
Hydrazoic acid
Hydrazoic acid, also known as hydrogen azide or azoimide, is a colorless, volatile, and extremely explosive liquid at room temperature and pressure. It is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, having chemical formula HN3. It was first isolated in 1890 by Theodor Curtius...
.
History
Theodor Curtius was born in DuisburgDuisburg
- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...
in the Ruhr area in 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...
. He studied chemistry with Robert Bunsen
Robert Bunsen
Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen was a German chemist. He investigated emission spectra of heated elements, and discovered caesium and rubidium with Gustav Kirchhoff. Bunsen developed several gas-analytical methods, was a pioneer in photochemistry, and did early work in the field of organoarsenic...
at Heidelberg University and with Hermann Kolbe at Leipzig University. He received his doctorate in 1882 in Leipzig.
After working from 1884 to 1886 for Adolf von Baeyer
Adolf von Baeyer
Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Adolf von Baeyer was a German chemist who synthesized indigo, and was the 1905 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Born in Berlin, he initially studied mathematics and physics at Berlin University before moving to Heidelberg to study chemistry with Robert Bunsen...
at the University of Munich, Curtius became the director of the analytical chemistry department at University of Erlangen
Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nuremberg
The Universität Erlangen Nürnberg is a university in the cities of Erlangen and Nuremberg in Bavaria, Germany. It is the second largest state university in Bavaria, having five Schools, 308 chairs, and 12,000 employees. There are 28,735 students enrolled at the university, of which about 2/3 are...
until 1889. Then he accepted the chair in Chemistry at the University of Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
, where he remained very studious, writing numerous articles and publications. In line with this success, Curtius was appointed Geheim Regierungsrat
Geheimrat
Geheimrat was the title of the highest advising officials at the Imperial, royal or principal courts of the Holy Roman Empire, who jointly formed the Geheimer Rat reporting to the ruler...
(Privy Councillor) in 1895. After a one-year appointment as the successor of the famous Friedrich Kekulé
Friedrich August Kekulé von Stradonitz
Friedrich August Kekule von Stradonitz was a German organic chemist. From the 1850s until his death, Kekule was one of the most prominent chemists in Europe, especially in theoretical chemistry...
at Bonn University in 1897, Curtius succeeded Victor Meyer as Professor of Chemistry at his old university in Heidelberg, in 1898, where he remained until his retirement in 1926. He was succeeded by Karl Freudenberg, who wrote Curtius' biography in 1962.
In his free time, he also composed music, sang in concerts, and was an active mountaineer. In 1894 he founded the Kiel section of the Association of German and Austrian Alpinists, which he personally supported with gifts. In his Munich time, he became close friend with alpinist guide Christian Klucker
Christian Klucker
Christian Klucker was a Swiss mountain guide who made many first ascents in the Alps, particularly in the Bernina Range, the Bregaglia and the Pennine Alps.Amongst his first ascents were:...
, with whom he made mountaineering hikes for many years after.
Theodor Curtius died in Heidelberg.
Major publications by Curtius
Curtius has written over 300 articles and publications. Several had a significant impact on chemical science.- Diazo- und Azoverbindungen der Fettreihe, Barth, Leipzig (1888)
- Studien mit Hydrazin, Barth, Leipzig, Bd 1,2 (1896), Bd 3,4 (1918)
- Einwirkung von Basen auf Diazoessigester, Berlin (1911)
- Die reduktion der aromatische Aldazine und Ketazine, Barth, Leipzig (1912)
- Hydrazide und Azide der Azidofettsäuren, Berlin (1912)
- Die Einwirkungen von Hydrazin auf Nitroverbindungen, Barth, Leipzig (1913)
- Berichte, 1885, 18, 2373
- Berichte, 1890, 23, 3023
- J. Prakt. Chem.[2], 1894, 50, 275
Curtius family
The Curtius family is historically from Bremen area. Several other members of the family became of note. See CurtiusCurtius
Curtius is a Roman nomen which may refer to:* Quintus Curtius Rufus, 1st century CE historian* Lacus Curtius, a mysterious hole in the ground in the Roman Forum* Curtius Curtius may also refer to:...
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