The synthesis of vitamin C achieved by Tadeusz Reichstein in 1933 remains a cornerstone of industrial organic chemistry. Born in Włocławek in 1897, this Polish-Swiss chemist developed a process for ascorbic acid production that carries his name to the present day, demonstrating the enduring impact of his methodical approach to complex molecular structures and pharmaceutical applications.
Early Education and Academic Development
Reichstein spent his childhood in Kiev before relocating to Jena for early schooling. By 1907, he moved to Zurich, eventually enrolling at ETH Zurich for his formal training. During his doctoral studies, he engaged with significant peers including Leopold Ruzicka and worked under the supervision of Hermann Staudinger at the Technical University of Karlsruhe. These formative years established the technical proficiency required for his subsequent investigations into biochemical synthesis.
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After establishing his research in Zurich, Reichstein transitioned to the University of Basel in 1937. He served as Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry before advancing to the chair of Organic Chemistry from 1946 until his 1967 retirement. His investigations into adrenal cortex hormones led to his contribution to the isolation of cortisone, which resulted in the 1950 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, shared with Edward Calvin Kendall and Philip Showalter Hench.
Botanical Research and Later Contributions
In the later decades of his career, Reichstein focused on the cytology and phytochemistry of ferns. He authored over 80 scientific papers exploring the intersections of chromosome behavior, hybridization, and polyploidy in plants. This work integrated his earlier chemical expertise with botanical classification, marking a shift from industrial-scale chemistry toward fundamental biological research during his post-retirement years in Basel.
Fast facts
- Born: 1897, Włocławek
- Died: 1996, Basel
- Citizenship: Polish and Swiss
- Education: ETH Zurich
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: 1950
- Copley Medal: 1968
- Career focus: Chemistry, Botany, Pharmaceutical sciences
- Burial site: Jewish Cemetery of Basel
Questions readers ask
What is the Reichstein process?
It is an industrial method for the artificial synthesis of vitamin C, which Reichstein independently developed in 1933.
For what achievement did he receive the Nobel Prize?
He was awarded the prize in 1950 for his research into the hormones of the adrenal cortex and the isolation of cortisone.
Achievements
- Foreign Member of the Royal Society — 1952
- Copley Medal — 1968
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine — 1950
- Held posts at University of Basel
- Educated at ETH Zurich
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