Albert Niemann Isolates Cocaine
- When
- 1859–1860
- Where
- University of Göttingen
- Episodes
- 2
Albert Niemann isolated cocaine from coca leaves in 1859, publishing his findings in 1860. Working at the University of Göttingen, he developed purification methods and described the alkaloid's properties, earning his Ph.D. with a dissertation on the new organic base.
Episodes
- Isolation of Cocaine
Niemann isolated cocaine from coca leaves in 1859, developing an improved purification process.
- Publication of Findings
Niemann published his dissertation on cocaine in 1860, earning his Ph.D.
Background and detail
Background. Albert Niemann, a German chemist, began his apprenticeship in Göttingen in 1849 and became a Ph.D. student at the George August University in 1852. Friedrich Wöhler, a professor at Göttingen, provided Niemann with coca leaves imported by Karl von Scherzer for analysis, setting the stage for Niemann's isolation work.
Isolation and Purification. In 1859, Niemann isolated cocaine from coca leaves and developed an improved purification process. He described the alkaloid as forming colorless transparent prisms with an alkaline reaction, bitter taste, and numbing effects on the tongue. These findings were published in 1860 in his dissertation and the journal Archiv der Pharmazie.
Publication and Recognition. Niemann's dissertation, titled Über eine neue organische Base in den Cocablättern, earned him his Ph.D. and was published in 1860. His work paralleled that of Paolo Mantegazza, who isolated cocaine around the same time. Niemann's contributions established the foundational understanding of cocaine's chemical properties.
People involved
- Albert Niemann · Chemist
- Friedrich Wöhler · Professor of Chemistry
- Karl von Scherzer · Member of the Austrian Novara expedition who imported coca leaves to Germany
- Paolo Mantegazza · Contemporary named in the source as working at about the same time
Sources
- Albert Niemann (chemist) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-29
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.