Background
Wieland, Heinrich Otto was born on June 4, 1877 in Pforzheim, Baden, Germany. Son of Theodor Wolgang and Elise (Blum) Wieland.
Wieland, Heinrich Otto was born on June 4, 1877 in Pforzheim, Baden, Germany. Son of Theodor Wolgang and Elise (Blum) Wieland.
Philosophy.D., U. München, 1901. Doctor of Engineering, Technische Hochschule, Darmstadt, 1925. Doctor.Med. (honorary), University Freiburg, 1926.
Doctor of Philosophy, U. Athenes, 1932.
In 1901 Wieland received his doctorate at the University of Munich while studying under Johannes Thiele. In 1914 he became associate professor for special topics in organic chemistry, and director of the Organic Division of the State Laboratory in Munich. From 1917 to 1918 Wieland worked in the service of the (KWI) Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physical Chemistry and Elektrochemistry in Dahlem then led by Fritz Haber as an alternative to regular military service.
There he was involved in weapons research for instance finding new synthetic routes for mustard gas.
He is also credited with the first synthesis of Adamsite. From 1913 to 1921, he was Professor at the Technical University of Munich.
He then moved to the University of Freiburg as successor of Ludwig Gattermann (he also assumed responsibility for Gattermanns famous cookbook). In Freiburg he started working on toad poisons and bile acids.
In association with Boehringer-Ingelheim he worked on synthetic alkaloids such as morphine and strychnine In 1925 Wieland succeeded Richard Willstätter as Chemistry Professor at the University of Munich.
In 1941, Wieland isolated the toxin alpha-amanitin, the principal active agent of one of the world"s most poisonous mushrooms Amanita phalloides. Wieland tried successfully to protect people, especially Jewish students, who were "racially burdened" after the Nuremberg Laws. Students who were expelled because they were "racially burdened" could stay in Heinrich Wieland"s group as chemists or as "Gäste des Geheimrats" (guests of the privy councillor).
Hans Conrad Leipelt, a student of Wieland, was sentenced to death after collecting money for Kurt Huber"s widow Clara Huber.
Heinrich"s father, Theodor Wieland (1846–1928) was a pharmacist with a doctorate in chemistry. He owned a gold and silver refinery in Pforzheim.
From 1915 to the end of 1920, he was advisor at Boehringer-Ingelheim and during this time he established the first scientific department of the company. Eva Wieland, Heinrich Wieland"s daughter, was married to Feodor Lynen on 14 May 1937.
Royal Society; Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Heidelberg Academy for Sciences and Humanities. Academy of Sciences of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics.
Married Josephine Bartmann, March 31, 1908. Children: Eva (Mistress F. Lynen), Wolfgang, Theodore, Otto.