This article is an attempt to present how the classical detective work has been
performed in order to determine chemical structures. In the past, discussion on
these examples was the way of learning of the organic chemistry. Thermal degradation
was the main method of analysis currently replaced with the spectroscopy.
Perhaps the history of chemistry may help to understand mentalities of creators of
new branches of science. On the other hand, it gives arguments for a cultivation of
„impractical” sciences.
The article describes the earliest attempts to present simple organic formulas
undertaken by Couper and Kekulé. Examples of a transformation of aromatic compounds
present how results of derivatization led to conclusions concerning structures.
Experiments and logic line of thought was supported by a great intuition. More
complicated molecules were investigated by degradation reactions. For example,
A. Baeyer at the beginning of his investigations concerning indigo, subjected isatin
(obtained from indigo by oxidation) to different reducing reagents. He obtained
indoldiol, oxindole, indole etc. Then these relatively simple compounds were synthesized
and served as by-products for indigo. Some methods of the industrial production
of indigo were elaborated on the base of works of Baeyer [16–20]. Similarly,
the structures of chrysin, brazilin and haematoxilin have been resolved mainly by
their degradation. The final structures were confirmed by synthesis.
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