The 1939 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Leopold Ružička for his foundational work on polymethylenes and higher terpenes, including the successful synthesis of male sex hormones. A figure in the fields of biochemistry and organic chemistry, he spent the majority of his professional career within the laboratories of Switzerland, ultimately influencing the global chemical industry.
Early Education and Career Beginnings
Born in 1887 in Vukovar, Ružička completed his secondary studies at the III Gymnasium Osijek. He pursued technical disciplines at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, where he earned his doctorate in 1910. He subsequently moved to Zurich to serve as an assistant to Hermann Staudinger. His early research focused on natural compounds, specifically the ingredients found in Dalmatian insect powder, before he transitioned into the chemistry of fragrant oils.
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During his tenure at ETH Zurich, which spanned from 1918 to 1957, Ružička made significant contributions to the study of macrocyclic ketones. He proved the structures of muscone and civetone, establishing that natural products could contain rings with more than six atoms. He developed the Ružička large ring synthesis, a technique he demonstrated by preparing civetone in 1927. This work, alongside his collaboration with Geneva perfume manufacturers, solidified his expertise in the field of terpenes.
Steroid Hormones and Industrial Impact
In 1927, he took the organic chemistry chair at Utrecht University, remaining there until 1929 before returning to Switzerland. His research into steroid hormones led to the synthesis of androsterone in 1934 and testosterone in 1935. These breakthroughs, combined with his industrial-scale production of musk, established the Swiss industry as a leader in the steroid field. Between 1934 and 1939, he published 70 papers regarding steroid sex hormones and filed numerous patents.
Later Scientific Contributions
Following the disruption of his research during World War II, Ružička reorganized his laboratory at ETH Zurich, mentoring younger scientists including Vladimir Prelog. In 1953, he published the Biogenetic Isoprene Rule, a hypothesis concerning the biogenesis of terpenes and the evolution of life. His career was marked by numerous international accolades, including the Marcel Benoist Prize in 1938 and the Faraday Lectureship Prize in 1958.
Fast facts
- Born: 1887, Vukovar
- Died: 1976, Mammern
- Nobel Prize in Chemistry: 1939
- Primary Employer: ETH Zurich (1918-1957)
- Foreign Member of the Royal Society: 1942
- Citizenship: Switzerland; Cisleithania
- Burial Site: Fluntern Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What were Ružička's major synthetic achievements?
He is recognized for the first chemical synthesis of male sex hormones, specifically androsterone and testosterone, and for developing the synthesis of macrocycles like civetone.
Where did he hold academic positions?
He worked at ETH Zurich from 1918 to 1957 and served on the faculty at Utrecht University from 1926 to 1929.
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