Burckhardt Helferich 1887–1982

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the contribution of Burckhardt Helferich in the field of biochemistry. Burckhardt Helferich was born on June 10, 1887, in Greifswald, to Heinrich Helferich—a Professor of Surgery at the University of Greifswald— and his wife, Natalie. In the autumn of 1907, he started to study chemistry at the Institute chaired by Adolf von Baeyer at the University of Munich, where he passed the first “Verband's” examination after three semesters. In 1909, he continued his studies at the University of Berlin, gaining his doctorate in 1911 under Emil Fischer. After his doctoral graduation, Helferich became Emil Fischer's personal assistant for two years, and, from 1913 onward, a teaching assistant. In 1945, Helferich began working as a guest professor at the University of Bonn, where, in 1947, he accepted the offer of the Chair of Chemistry and Directorship at the Bonn Chemical Institute as the successor to Paul Pfeiffer. Helferich's work on ethers of triphenylmethanol began during his earlier days in Berlin. During the Frankfurt period, Helferich showed that the use of the triphenylmethyl (trityl) group permits the specific etherification of terminal hydroxyl groups. On July 5, 1982, Burckhardt Helferich died in Bonn shortly after his 95th birthday.