Adolf Butenandt

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Adolf Butenandt

Role / Field:

Pioneering German biochemist known for sex hormones and pheromone discovery.

Born:

1903-03-24

Died:

1995-01-18

Century / Era:

1903s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Adolf Friedrich Johann Butenandt (German pronunciation: [ˈaːdɔlf ˈbuːtənant] ; 24 March 1903, Lehe near Bremerhaven – 18 January 1995, Munich) was a German biochemist. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1939 for his "work on sex hormones." He initially rejected the award in accordance with government policy, but accepted it in 1949 after World War II. He was President of the Max Planck Society from 1960 to 1972. He was also the first, in 1959, to discover the structure of the sex pheromone of silkworms, which he named bombykol. Born in Lehe, near Bremerhaven, he started his studies at Marburg University.

Career & Major Achievements

For his PhD, he joined the working group of the Nobel laureate Adolf Windaus at the University of Göttingen and he finished his studies with a PhD in chemistry in 1927. His doctoral research was on the chemistry of the insecticidal toxin found in the roots of Derris elliptica which he isolated and characterized. After his Habilitation he became lecturer in Göttingen 1931. He became a professor ordinarius at the Technical University of Danzig from 1933 until 1936. In 1933, Butenandt signed the Vow of allegiance of the Professors of the German Universities and High-Schools to Adolf Hitler and the National Socialistic State.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1936, he applied for the directorship of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institut (later the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry) in Berlin-Dahlem while also joining the NSDAP on 1 May 1936 (party member No. 3716562). The earlier director of the Kaiser Wilhelm institute was Carl Neuberg, who had been removed for being a Jew. His work on rotenones was considered useful by the Nazi leadership as it could be useful for controlling lice among soldiers in the trenches. As the head of a leading institute, he applied for government funding on concentrated research labeled kriegswichtig (important for the war), some of which focused on military projects like the improvement of oxygen uptake for high-altitude bomber pilots. Adolf Windaus and Walter Schöller of Schering gave him the advice to work on hormones extracted from ovaries.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1903 (1903-03-24): Birth of Adolf Butenandt — Pioneering German biochemist known for sex hormones and pheromone discovery.
2. 1927: 1927 Milestone — For his PhD, he joined the working group of the Nobel laureate Adolf Windaus at the University of Göttingen and he finished his studies with a PhD in chemistry in 1927.
3. 1931: 1931 Milestone — After his Habilitation he became lecturer in Göttingen 1931.
4. 1933: 1933 Milestone — He became a professor ordinarius at the Technical University of Danzig from 1933 until 1936.
5. 1936: 1936 Milestone — In 1936, he applied for the directorship of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institut (later the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry) in Berlin-Dahlem while also joining the NSDAP on 1 May 1936 (party member No.
6. 1939: 1939 Milestone — He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1939 for his "work on sex hormones.
7. 1949: 1949 Milestone — " He initially rejected the award in accordance with government policy, but accepted it in 1949 after World War II.
8. 1959: 1959 Milestone — He was also the first, in 1959, to discover the structure of the sex pheromone of silkworms, which he named bombykol.
9. 1960: 1960 Milestone — He was President of the Max Planck Society from 1960 to 1972.
10. 1995 (1995-01-18): Passing & Historical Legacy — Adolf Butenandt passed away on 1995-01-18, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Adolf Butenandt

True or False: “Adolf Butenandt was the first person to discover the structure of a silkworm moth sex pheromone, which he named bombykol.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): He discovered and named bombykol in 1959, marking a significant achievement in chemical biology.

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• 1903 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1903
• March 24 (03-24) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 24
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Frequently Asked Questions about Adolf Butenandt