Kuhn was born in Vienna, Austria, where he attended grammar school and high school. His interest in chemistry surfaced early; however he had many interests and decided late to study chemistry. Between 1910 and 1918 he was a schoolmate of Wolfgang Pauli, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for 1945. Beginning in 1918, Kuhn attended lectures at the University of Vienna in chemistry. He finished his chemistry studies at University of Munich and received his doctoral degree in 1922 with Richard Willstätter for a scientific work on enzymes.
After graduating, Kuhn continued his scientific career, first in Munich, then at the ETH Zurich and from 1929 onwards at the University of Heidelberg, where he was head of the chemistry department beginning in 1937. In 1928 he married Daisy Hartmann and the couple subsequently had two sons and four daughters.
He was subsequently awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1938 for his "work on carotenoids and vitamins," but rejected the prize as Hitler had forbidden German citizens to accept it. In a hand-written letter, he even described the awarding of the prize to a German as an invitation to violate a decree of the Führer.[2][3] He received the award after World War II.[4] Kuhn is also credited with the discovery of the deadly nerve agentSoman in 1944.[5]
Kuhn died in 1967 in Heidelberg, Germany, aged 66.
Nazi eraedit
Kuhn collaborated with high-ranking Nazi officials[6] and denounced three of his Jewish co-workers in 1936.[6]
In 2005, the Society of German Chemists (Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, GDCh) declared their intention to no longer award the Richard Kuhn Medal: "The board of the GDCh intends to discontinue awarding the Medal named after the organic chemist, Nobel Prize laureate of the year 1938 and President of the GDCh in 1964–65, Richard Kuhn. The board thereby draws the consequences out of research on Richard Kuhn's behaviour during National Socialism. Even though the question of whether Kuhn was a convinced National Socialist or just a career-oriented camp follower is not fully answered, he undisputably supported the Nazi-regime in administrative and organizational ways, especially by his scientific work. Despite his scientific achievements, Kuhn is not suitable to serve as a role model, and eponym for an important award, mainly due to his unreflected research on poison gas, but also due to his conduct towards Jewish colleagues."[7]
^U. Deichmann, "Dem Duce, dem Tenno und unserem Führer ein dreifaches Heil", published in D. Hoffmann and Mark Walker (eds.), "Physiker zwischen Autonomie und Anpassung" (Weinheim: Wiley-VCH Verlag, 2006).
^Sarah Everts, Chemistry In Nazi Germany, Chemical & Engineering News, Volume 91, Issue 37, pp. 30–33, 16 September 2013, American Chemical Society.
^"Nobel Laureates Facts". The Nobel Foundation. 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
^Lukey, Brian J.; Salem, Harry (2007). Chemical Warfare Agents: Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics. CRC Press. p. 12. ISBN978-1-4200-4661-8.
Shampo, M. A.; Kyle R A (October 2000). "Richard Kuhn – Nobel Prize for work on carotenoids and vitamins". Mayo Clin. Proc.75 (10): 990. doi:10.4065/75.10.990. ISSN 0025-6196. PMID 11040844.
Baer, H. H. (1969). Richard Kuhn; 1900–1967. Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biochemistry. Vol. 24. pp. 1–12. doi:10.1016/S0065-2318(08)60347-9. ISBN978-0-12-007224-8. ISSN 0065-2318. PMID 4909158.[this reference does not seem to say what it is claimed to]
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richard Kuhn.
Grandin, Karl, ed. (1938). "Richard Kuhn Biography". Les Prix Nobel. The Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
1938 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Richard Kuhn on Nobelprize.org
April 08, 2024
richard, kuhn, this, article, about, austrian, german, biochemist, american, judge, politician, united, states, house, representatives, elections, michigan, 2010, richard, johann, kuhn, german, pronunciation, ˈʁɪçaʁt, ˈkuːn, december, 1900, july, 1967, austria. This article is about the Austrian German biochemist For the American judge and politician see United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan 2010 Richard Johann Kuhn German pronunciation ˈʁɪcaʁt ˈkuːn 3 December 1900 31 July 1967 was an Austrian German biochemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1938 for his work on carotenoids and vitamins Richard KuhnBornRichard Johann Kuhn 1900 12 03 3 December 1900Vienna Austria HungaryDied31 July 1967 1967 07 31 aged 66 Heidelberg West GermanyNationalityGermany AustriaAlma materUniversity of ViennaUniversity of MunichKnown forCarotenoids and Vitamins 1 IsoalloxazineTotal synthesis of riboflavin and Vitamin B6 SomanKuhn Winterstein reactionAwardsNobel Prize in Chemistry 1938 Goethe Prize 1942 Wilhelm Exner Medal 1952 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize 1958 Centenary Prize 1962 Scientific careerFieldsChemistryInstitutionsUniversity of Heidelberg Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Research 2 Nazi era 3 Honours and awards 4 References 5 External linksBiography editEarly life edit Kuhn was born in Vienna Austria where he attended grammar school and high school His interest in chemistry surfaced early however he had many interests and decided late to study chemistry Between 1910 and 1918 he was a schoolmate of Wolfgang Pauli who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for 1945 Beginning in 1918 Kuhn attended lectures at the University of Vienna in chemistry He finished his chemistry studies at University of Munich and received his doctoral degree in 1922 with Richard Willstatter for a scientific work on enzymes After graduating Kuhn continued his scientific career first in Munich then at the ETH Zurich and from 1929 onwards at the University of Heidelberg where he was head of the chemistry department beginning in 1937 In 1928 he married Daisy Hartmann and the couple subsequently had two sons and four daughters Research edit nbsp Kuhn s grave in HeidelbergKuhn s areas of study included investigations of theoretical problems of organic chemistry stereochemistry of aliphatic and aromatic compounds syntheses of polyenes and cumulenes constitution and colour the acidity of hydrocarbons as well as extensive fields in biochemistry carotenoids flavins vitamins and enzymes Specifically he carried out important work on vitamin B2 and the antidermatitis vitamin B6 In 1929 he became Principal of the Institute for Chemistry at the newly founded Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Medical Research which since 1950 has been renamed the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg By 1937 he also took over the administration of this Institute In addition to these duties he also served as of Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Heidelberg and for one year he was at the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia as a Visiting Research Professor for Physiological Chemistry He was subsequently awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1938 for his work on carotenoids and vitamins but rejected the prize as Hitler had forbidden German citizens to accept it In a hand written letter he even described the awarding of the prize to a German as an invitation to violate a decree of the Fuhrer 2 3 He received the award after World War II 4 Kuhn is also credited with the discovery of the deadly nerve agent Soman in 1944 5 Kuhn was editor of Justus Liebigs Annalen der Chemie from 1948 Kuhn died in 1967 in Heidelberg Germany aged 66 Nazi era editKuhn collaborated with high ranking Nazi officials 6 and denounced three of his Jewish co workers in 1936 6 In 2005 the Society of German Chemists Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker GDCh declared their intention to no longer award the Richard Kuhn Medal The board of the GDCh intends to discontinue awarding the Medal named after the organic chemist Nobel Prize laureate of the year 1938 and President of the GDCh in 1964 65 Richard Kuhn The board thereby draws the consequences out of research on Richard Kuhn s behaviour during National Socialism Even though the question of whether Kuhn was a convinced National Socialist or just a career oriented camp follower is not fully answered he undisputably supported the Nazi regime in administrative and organizational ways especially by his scientific work Despite his scientific achievements Kuhn is not suitable to serve as a role model and eponym for an important award mainly due to his unreflected research on poison gas but also due to his conduct towards Jewish colleagues 7 Honours and awards edit1938 Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1952 Wilhelm Exner Medal 1960 Honorary doctorate from the University of Vienna 1961 Austrian Decoration for Science and ArtReferences edit The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1938 U Deichmann Dem Duce dem Tenno und unserem Fuhrer ein dreifaches Heil published in D Hoffmann and Mark Walker eds Physiker zwischen Autonomie und Anpassung Weinheim Wiley VCH Verlag 2006 Sarah Everts Chemistry In Nazi Germany Chemical amp Engineering News Volume 91 Issue 37 pp 30 33 16 September 2013 American Chemical Society Nobel Laureates Facts The Nobel Foundation 2008 Retrieved 29 July 2008 Lukey Brian J Salem Harry 2007 Chemical Warfare Agents Chemistry Pharmacology Toxicology and Therapeutics CRC Press p 12 ISBN 978 1 4200 4661 8 a b Science in the Third Reich Margit Szollosi Janze Berg Publishers 2001 ISBN 1 85973 421 9 ISBN 978 1 85973 421 6 Retrieved 16 March 2010 Nachrichten aus der Chemie 54 514 May 2006 Shampo M A Kyle R A October 2000 Richard Kuhn Nobel Prize for work on carotenoids and vitamins Mayo Clin Proc 75 10 990 doi 10 4065 75 10 990 ISSN 0025 6196 PMID 11040844 Baer H H 1969 Richard Kuhn 1900 1967 Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biochemistry Vol 24 pp 1 12 doi 10 1016 S0065 2318 08 60347 9 ISBN 978 0 12 007224 8 ISSN 0065 2318 PMID 4909158 this reference does not seem to say what it is claimed to External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richard Kuhn Grandin Karl ed 1938 Richard Kuhn Biography Les Prix Nobel The Nobel Foundation Retrieved 29 July 2008 1938 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Richard Kuhn on Nobelprize org nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richard Kuhn amp oldid 1194612692, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
