Richard Willstätter

Biography

Richard Martin Willstätter was a German organic chemist born in Karlsruhe on August 13, 1872. He became a leading chemist of the early 20th century with his pioneering research on plant pigments, especially chlorophyll. His studies into the molecular structure of these compounds changed the understanding of photosynthesis and plant biochemistry. Willstätter studied at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, where he honed his skills in organic chemistry under Adolf von Baeyer. His doctoral work set the stage for his later research on natural products and their chemical structures. In 1903, he married Sophie Leser, who supported him throughout their marriage. Willstätter's research methodology combined detailed experimental technique with new analytical approaches. He created new methods for isolating and purifying plant pigments, allowing him to determine their exact chemical compositions. His work on chlorophyll uncovered its magnesium-containing structure and showed the link between chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. These findings gave crucial insights into how photosynthesis works and established the chemical basis for plant colors. His contributions to chemistry earned him worldwide recognition and numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1915. Beyond chlorophyll, his research included other key biological compounds like anthocyanins, responsible for red and blue colors in flowers and fruits. Willstätter held academic posts at several top German universities and became a respected teacher and mentor to many young chemists. Despite his scientific successes, his later career was marred by the rise of anti-Semitism in Germany. As a Jewish scientist, he faced growing discrimination and had to resign from his position at the University of Munich in 1924. He spent his final years in Switzerland, where he died in Muralto on August 3, 1942, just ten days before his seventieth birthday.