The Great Phenol Plot was a clandestine effort by the German Government during the early years of World War I to divert American-produced phenol away from the manufacture of high explosives that supported the British war effort. It was used by the German-owned Bayer company, who could no longer import phenol from Britain, to produce aspirin.
At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, most phenol used by American manufacturers was imported from the United Kingdom.[1] A major precursor compound in organic chemistry, phenol was used to make both the salicylic acid used to make aspirin, and the high explosive picric acid (trinitrophenol).[2] It was also a primary component for Thomas Edison's "Diamond Disc" phonograph records, which were made from glue-bound wood flour or ceramic coated in a layer of an early phenol-based plastic (unlike other disc records of the time, which were made from shellac).[3]
British phenol was soon being used almost exclusively for making explosives for the war effort, leaving little for export.[1] By 1915, the price of phenol rose to the point that Bayer's aspirin plant was forced to drastically cut production; this was especially problematic because Bayer was instituting a new branding strategy in anticipation of the expiry of the aspirin patent in the United States. Counterfeiters and Canadian importers and smugglers were stepping up to meet demand for aspirin, and the war had disrupted the links between the American Bayer plant (in Rensselaer, New York) and the central Bayer headquarters in Germany. Thomas Edison was also facing phenol supply problems; in response, he built a factory near Johnstown, Pennsylvania capable of manufacturing 12 short tons (11 t) of phenol per day. Edison's excess phenol seemed destined for American trinitrophenol production, which would be used to support the British.[3]
Plot
Although the United States remained officially neutral until April 1917, it was increasingly throwing its support to the Allies through trade, especially after the May 1915 sinking of the British ocean liner Lusitania (whose death toll included 128 American passengers) by a German U-boat. While many Americans, including President Woodrow Wilson, supported the British, there was also considerable pro-German sentiment (though considerably less after the Lusitania's sinking). German ambassador Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff and Interior Ministry official Heinrich Albert were tasked with undermining American industry and maintaining public support for Germany. One of their agents was a former Bayer employee, Hugo Schweitzer.[4]
Schweitzer, with money funneled from Germany through Albert, set up a contract for a front company called the Chemical Exchange Association to buy all of Edison's excess phenol. Much of the phenol would go to the German-owned Chemische Fabrik von Heyden's American subsidiary; Heyden was the supplier of Bayer's salicylic acid for aspirin manufacture. By July 1915, Edison's plants were selling about three tons of phenol per day to Schweitzer; Heyden's salicylic acid production was soon back on line, and in turn Bayer's aspirin plant was running as well. Schweitzer sold the remainder of the phenol at a considerable profit, being careful to distribute it to only non-war-related industries.[5]
Albert, however, was under investigation by the Secret Service because of his propaganda activities. On July 24, 1915, he accidentally left his briefcase on a train; it was recovered by a Secret Service agent who had been following him.[6] The briefcase contained details about the phenol plot and other covert activities to indirectly aid the German war effort. Although it was not incriminating enough to bring charges against Albert or the other conspirators (since the United States was still officially neutral and trade with Germany was legal), the documents were soon leaked to the New York World, an anti-German newspaper.[7] The World published an exposé on August 15, 1915,[6] and the publicity soon forced Albert to stop funding the phenol purchases.[7]
Schweitzer quickly sought other financial backers. By September, he had signed a deal (backdated to June to hide Albert's involvement) with Richard Kny, a relative of the Heyden plant's manager. This allowed the phenol transfers to continue for a short while longer. By the time the plan was discontinued, it had succeeded in diverting enough phenol, according to Albert, to make about 4.5 million pounds (2,000 tonnes) of explosives. Schweitzer defended his actions, arguing that making medicine and disinfectants was a better use of the phenol than making weapons.[7] The public pressure soon forced Schweitzer and Edison to end the phenol deal, with the embarrassed Edison subsequently sending his excess phenol to the U.S. military, but by that time the deal had netted the plotters over $2 million (equivalent to $39.1 million in 2021) and there was already enough phenol to keep Bayer's aspirin plant running. Bayer's reputation was damaged, however, just as the company was preparing to launch an advertising campaign to secure the connection between aspirin and the Bayer brand.[8]
Jeffreys, Diarmuid (2008). Aspirin: The Remarkable Story of a Wonder Drug. Chemical Heritage Foundation. ISBN9781596918160.
Mann, Charles C. & Plummer, Mark L. (1991). The Aspirin Wars: Money, Medicine, and 100 Years of Rampant Competition. New York: Knopf. ISBN9780394578941.
Schwarcz, Joe (2001). Radar, Hula Hoops, and Playful Pigs: 67 Digestible Commentaries on the Fascinating Chemistry of Everyday Life. Macmillan. ISBN9780805074079.
External links
"The great phenol plot. (Chemfusion).." The Free Library. 2001 Chemical Institute of Canada 18 Mar. 2018
January 02, 2023
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The Great Phenol Plot was a clandestine effort by the German Government during the early years of World War I to divert American produced phenol away from the manufacture of high explosives that supported the British war effort It was used by the German owned Bayer company who could no longer import phenol from Britain to produce aspirin The August 15 1915 edition of the New York World broke the news of the Great Phenol plot and other clandestine pro German activities that were organized by Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff and Heinrich Albert Contents 1 Background 2 Plot 3 See also 4 References 5 Notes 6 External linksBackground EditAt the outbreak of World War I in 1914 most phenol used by American manufacturers was imported from the United Kingdom 1 A major precursor compound in organic chemistry phenol was used to make both the salicylic acid used to make aspirin and the high explosive picric acid trinitrophenol 2 It was also a primary component for Thomas Edison s Diamond Disc phonograph records which were made from glue bound wood flour or ceramic coated in a layer of an early phenol based plastic unlike other disc records of the time which were made from shellac 3 British phenol was soon being used almost exclusively for making explosives for the war effort leaving little for export 1 By 1915 the price of phenol rose to the point that Bayer s aspirin plant was forced to drastically cut production this was especially problematic because Bayer was instituting a new branding strategy in anticipation of the expiry of the aspirin patent in the United States Counterfeiters and Canadian importers and smugglers were stepping up to meet demand for aspirin and the war had disrupted the links between the American Bayer plant in Rensselaer New York and the central Bayer headquarters in Germany Thomas Edison was also facing phenol supply problems in response he built a factory near Johnstown Pennsylvania capable of manufacturing 12 short tons 11 t of phenol per day Edison s excess phenol seemed destined for American trinitrophenol production which would be used to support the British 3 Plot EditAlthough the United States remained officially neutral until April 1917 it was increasingly throwing its support to the Allies through trade especially after the May 1915 sinking of the British ocean liner Lusitania whose death toll included 128 American passengers by a German U boat While many Americans including President Woodrow Wilson supported the British there was also considerable pro German sentiment though considerably less after the Lusitania s sinking German ambassador Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff and Interior Ministry official Heinrich Albert were tasked with undermining American industry and maintaining public support for Germany One of their agents was a former Bayer employee Hugo Schweitzer 4 Schweitzer with money funneled from Germany through Albert set up a contract for a front company called the Chemical Exchange Association to buy all of Edison s excess phenol Much of the phenol would go to the German owned Chemische Fabrik von Heyden s American subsidiary Heyden was the supplier of Bayer s salicylic acid for aspirin manufacture By July 1915 Edison s plants were selling about three tons of phenol per day to Schweitzer Heyden s salicylic acid production was soon back on line and in turn Bayer s aspirin plant was running as well Schweitzer sold the remainder of the phenol at a considerable profit being careful to distribute it to only non war related industries 5 Albert however was under investigation by the Secret Service because of his propaganda activities On July 24 1915 he accidentally left his briefcase on a train it was recovered by a Secret Service agent who had been following him 6 The briefcase contained details about the phenol plot and other covert activities to indirectly aid the German war effort Although it was not incriminating enough to bring charges against Albert or the other conspirators since the United States was still officially neutral and trade with Germany was legal the documents were soon leaked to the New York World an anti German newspaper 7 The World published an expose on August 15 1915 6 and the publicity soon forced Albert to stop funding the phenol purchases 7 Schweitzer quickly sought other financial backers By September he had signed a deal backdated to June to hide Albert s involvement with Richard Kny a relative of the Heyden plant s manager This allowed the phenol transfers to continue for a short while longer By the time the plan was discontinued it had succeeded in diverting enough phenol according to Albert to make about 4 5 million pounds 2 000 tonnes of explosives Schweitzer defended his actions arguing that making medicine and disinfectants was a better use of the phenol than making weapons 7 The public pressure soon forced Schweitzer and Edison to end the phenol deal with the embarrassed Edison subsequently sending his excess phenol to the U S military but by that time the deal had netted the plotters over 2 million equivalent to 39 1 million in 2021 and there was already enough phenol to keep Bayer s aspirin plant running Bayer s reputation was damaged however just as the company was preparing to launch an advertising campaign to secure the connection between aspirin and the Bayer brand 8 See also EditList of German sponsored acts of terrorism during WWIReferences Edit a b Schwarcz 2001 p 60 Jeffreys 2008 pp 109 110 a b Mann amp Plummer 1991 pp 39 40 Jeffreys 2008 pp 109 113 Mann amp Plummer 1991 pp 38 39 Mann amp Plummer 1991 pp 40 41 a b Jeffreys 2008 pp 113 a b c Mann amp Plummer 1991 pp 41 42 Jeffreys 2008 pp 113 114Notes EditJeffreys Diarmuid 2008 Aspirin The Remarkable Story of a Wonder Drug Chemical Heritage Foundation ISBN 9781596918160 Mann Charles C amp Plummer Mark L 1991 The Aspirin Wars Money Medicine and 100 Years of Rampant Competition New York Knopf ISBN 9780394578941 Schwarcz Joe 2001 Radar Hula Hoops and Playful Pigs 67 Digestible Commentaries on the Fascinating Chemistry of Everyday Life Macmillan ISBN 9780805074079 External links Edit The great phenol plot Chemfusion The Free Library 2001 Chemical Institute of Canada 18 Mar 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Great Phenol Plot amp oldid 1105097131, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
