Werner Emmanuel Bachmann
Encyclopedia
Werner Emmanuel Bachmann (November 13, 1901 – March 22, 1951) was a U.S. chemist
. Bachmann was born in Detroit, Michigan
where he studied chemistry and chemical engineering at Wayne State University
and later at the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor nearby. He completed his doctorate under Moses Gomberg
and spent the rest of his academic career at the University of Michigan
.
Bachmann studied physical organic chemistry
(rearrangements, free radicals) and organic synthesis
. He is considered a pioneer in steroid synthesis, and carried out the first total synthesis
of a steroidal hormone
, equilenin
.http://www.chemistry.msu.edu/Genealogy/work-area-B.shtml His name is associated with the Gomberg-Bachmann reaction
for the synthesis of diaryl compounds from aryl diazonium chlorides.http://www.ecompound.com/Reaction%20reference/name_reaction_alphabetical2.htm
Bachmann developed a new method for the production of the explosive Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX)
, which was used by the United States
during the World War II
.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
. Bachmann was born in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
where he studied chemistry and chemical engineering at Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
and later at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor nearby. He completed his doctorate under Moses Gomberg
Moses Gomberg
Moses Gomberg was a chemistry professor at the University of Michigan....
and spent the rest of his academic career at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
Bachmann studied physical organic chemistry
Physical organic chemistry
Physical organic chemistry is the study of the interrelationships between structure and reactivity in organic molecules. It can be seen as the study of organic chemistry using tools of physical chemistry such as chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, thermochemistry, and quantum chemistry...
(rearrangements, free radicals) and organic synthesis
Organic synthesis
Organic synthesis is a special branch of chemical synthesis and is concerned with the construction of organic compounds via organic reactions. Organic molecules can often contain a higher level of complexity compared to purely inorganic compounds, so the synthesis of organic compounds has...
. He is considered a pioneer in steroid synthesis, and carried out the first total synthesis
Total synthesis
In organic chemistry, a total synthesis is, in principle, the complete chemical synthesis of complex organic molecules from simpler pieces, usually without the aid of biological processes. In practice, these simpler pieces are commercially available in bulk and semi-bulk quantities, and are often...
of a steroidal hormone
Steroid hormone
A steroid hormone is a steroid that acts as a hormone. Steroid hormones can be grouped into five groups by the receptors to which they bind: glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, androgens, estrogens, and progestogens...
, equilenin
Equilenin
Equilenin is a estrogenic steroid hormone obtained from the urine of pregnant mares. It is used as one of the components in Premarin.-External Links:**...
.http://www.chemistry.msu.edu/Genealogy/work-area-B.shtml His name is associated with the Gomberg-Bachmann reaction
Gomberg-Bachmann reaction
The Gomberg–Bachmann reaction, named for the Ukrainian-American chemist Moses Gomberg and the American chemist Werner Emmanuel Bachmann, is an aryl-aryl coupling reaction via a diazonium salt....
for the synthesis of diaryl compounds from aryl diazonium chlorides.http://www.ecompound.com/Reaction%20reference/name_reaction_alphabetical2.htm
Bachmann developed a new method for the production of the explosive Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX)
RDX
RDX, an initialism for Research Department Explosive, is an explosive nitroamine widely used in military and industrial applications. It was developed as an explosive which was more powerful than TNT, and it saw wide use in WWII. RDX is also known as cyclonite, hexogen , and T4...
, which was used by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.