Arthur Birch (organic chemist), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Arthur Birch (organic chemist)

Australian chemist

Date of Birth: 03-Aug-1915

Place of Birth: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Date of Death: 08-Dec-1995

Profession: chemist, university teacher

Nationality: Australia

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Arthur John Birch, AC CMG FRS FAA (3 August 1915 – 8 December 1995) was an Australian organic chemist.Birch developed the Birch reduction of aromatic rings (by treatment with lithium metal and ammonia) which is widely used in synthetic organic chemistry.
The Birch Reduction enables the modification of steroids.
In 1948 Birch published the first total synthesis of a male sex hormone (19-nortestosterone), as the first member of a new structural series.
This series later comprised the first oral contraceptive pill, which was made by others.
The Birch reduction also allows for the development of other steroid drugs and antibiotics – he also made the first simple synthesis of the ring A-B structure of cholesterol.
Birch published over 440 scientific papers and reports.