1828 CE
Wöhler Synthesizes Urea
Friedrich Wöhler accidentally synthesizes urea from ammonium cyanate, disproving vitalism and founding organic chemistry.
Chronological Storyline (42 Milestones)
1832 CE
Discovery of Benzoyl Radical
Wöhler and Justus von Liebig discover the benzoyl radical, demonstrating that groups of atoms remain intact in reactions.
By Smokefoot - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32289369
1845 CE
Kolbe Synthesis of Acetic Acid
Hermann Kolbe synthesizes acetic acid from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, confirming organic compounds can be made from inorganic precursors.
1856 CE
Perkin Discovers Mauveine
William Henry Perkin accidentally synthesizes the first synthetic dye, mauveine, sparking the dye industry and industrial organic chemistry.
By Henry Rzepa (en:User:Rzepa) - en:Image:Mauv2.jpg created & uploaded by en:User:Rzepa, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=854834
1857 CE
Kekulé Proposes Carbon Tetravalence
August Kekulé proposes that carbon is tetravalent and can form chains, a foundation of structural organic chemistry.
By Unknown author - https://www.gettyimages.ie/detail/news-photo/german-organic-chemist-friedrich-august-kekule-von-news-photo/72242781, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=167877
1865 CE
Kekulé Proposes Benzene Structure
Kekulé suggests the cyclic structure of benzene, revolutionizing understanding of aromatic compounds.
1874 CE
Van't Hoff and Le Bel Propose Tetrahedral Carbon
Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff and Joseph Le Bel independently propose the tetrahedral arrangement of carbon bonds, founding stereochemistry.
1884 CE
Fischer Begins Work on Sugars
Emil Fischer starts his systematic studies on sugars, determining their structures and configurations, leading to the Fischer projection.
By Unknown author - https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/obf_images/29/85/3104172da6b66ab0d72a53a71f82.jpg Gallery: https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/image/V0027668.html Wellcome Collection gallery (2018-03-23): https://wellcomecollection.org/works/pbekk7qp CC-BY-4.0, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=180238528
1891 CE
Baeyer Proposes Strain Theory
Adolf von Baeyer introduces strain theory to explain the stability of cyclic compounds, important for alicyclic chemistry.
By Ed (Edgar181) - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12620086
1894 CE
Grignard Discovers Organomagnesium Compounds
Victor Grignard discovers organomagnesium compounds (Grignard reagents), powerful tools for forming carbon-carbon bonds.
By Ben Mills - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2594188
1900 CE
Formulation of Fischer Indole Synthesis
Emil Fischer develops the Fischer indole synthesis, a key method for synthesizing indole derivatives.
1907 CE
Baekeland Patents Bakelite
Leo Baekeland patents Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, initiating the age of polymers.
By Original: MarkusZi Vector: Dirk Hünniger - Bakelit Struktur.png, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20188781
1910 CE
Lebedev Produces Synthetic Rubber
Sergei Lebedev develops the first commercial synthetic rubber from butadiene, important for tires. )
1912 CE
Nobel Prize to Grignard and Sabatier
Victor Grignard and Paul Sabatier win the Nobel Prize for their contributions to organic synthesis and catalytic hydrogenation.
By Fotograv. - Generalstabens Litografiska Anstalt Stockholm - Les Prix Nobel, p. 56 (2nd part of the book) and [1], Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=115004535
1920 CE
Staudinger Proposes Macromolecules
Hermann Staudinger publishes his hypothesis that polymers are long chains of repeating units, laying the foundation for polymer chemistry.
By Nobel Foundation - Les Prix Nobel en 1953, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18542861
1928 CE
Diels–Alder Reaction Discovered
Otto Diels and Kurt Alder discover the cycloaddition reaction, a powerful method for forming six-membered rings.
By User:Innerstream - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=122283758
1931 CE
Carothers Invents Neoprene
Wallace Carothers at DuPont invents neoprene, a synthetic rubber resistant to oil and heat.
By Mark.murphy - English Wikipedia, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=866990
1935 CE
Nylon Invented by Carothers
Wallace Carothers synthesizes nylon, the first synthetic fiber, revolutionizing textiles and plastics.
By User:Innerstream - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112727156
1938 CE
Discovery of Teflon (PTFE)
Roy Plunkett accidentally discovers polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), a non-stick and heat-resistant polymer.
By Vectorization: Alhadis - Own work based on: Teflon structure.PNG by Dubaj~commonswiki, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84729767
1940 CE
Saran (PVDC) Invented
Polyvinylidene chloride (Saran) is developed as a barrier plastic for food packaging.
1946 CE
Flory's Polymer Theory
Paul Flory publishes his theory of polymer solutions and distributions, providing a mathematical framework for polymer physics.
By Unknown (Associated Press) - [1], Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70925529
1950 CE
Perkin Medal for Tishler
Max Tishler develops large-scale synthesis of vitamin B2 and B6, advancing pharmaceutical organic chemistry.
1953 CE
Ziegler Discovers Catalyst for Polyethylene
Karl Ziegler develops a catalyst to polymerize ethylene at low pressure, enabling high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
1954 CE
Natta Develops Isotactic Polypropylene
Giulio Natta uses Ziegler's catalyst to produce isotactic polypropylene, a stereoregular polymer with superior properties.
By Unknown (Mondadori Publishers) - http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/portrait-of-italian-engineer-giulio-natta-1960s-news-photo/174304752, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41259480
1963 CE
Nobel Prize for Ziegler and Natta
Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta win the Nobel Prize for their discoveries in high polymer chemistry and catalysis.
By Unknown author - http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1963/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18334634
1965 CE
Woodward Total Synthesis of Vitamin B12
Robert B. Woodward completes the total synthesis of vitamin B12, a monumental feat in organic synthesis.
By Louis Fabian Bachrach Jr. (photographer), via The Nobel Foundation - http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1965/, PD-Sweden, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34664939
1970 CE
Kwolek Invents Kevlar
Stephanie Kwolek at DuPont invents Kevlar, a high-strength aramid polymer used in body armor.
By Ben Mills and Jynto - Derived from File:Benzene-aromatic-3D-balls.png and File:Oxamide-3D-balls.png., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9854604
1977 CE
Discovery of Conducting Polymers
Alan Heeger, Alan MacDiarmid, and Hideki Shirakawa discover that doped polyacetylene conducts electricity, launching the field of conducting polymers.
By Smokefoot - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6893639
1980 CE
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Invented
Kary Mullis invents PCR, a technique that relies on DNA polymerase, enabling DNA amplification (though more molecular biology).
By Madprime - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2104468
1986 CE
Green Chemistry Principles Proposed
Paul Anastas and John Warner publish the 12 principles of green chemistry, emphasizing sustainable organic synthesis.
1987 CE
First Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED)
Ching W. Tang and Steven Van Slyke at Kodak demonstrate the first efficient organic LED, enabling modern displays.
By STRONGlk7 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22585310
1990 CE
First Organic Solar Cell
Tang reports the first organic photovoltaic cell with reasonable efficiency, beginning organic solar energy.
By Solarmer (talk) - Own work (Original text: I created this work entirely by myself.), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6730117
2000 CE
Nobel Prize for Conducting Polymers
Heeger, MacDiarmid, and Shirakawa win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and development of conductive polymers.
2001 CE
Development of Click Chemistry
K. Barry Sharpless introduces the concept of click chemistry, efficient and selective reactions for synthesis.
2005 CE
Yves Chauvin Wins Nobel for Metathesis
Yves Chauvin, Robert Grubbs, and Richard Schrock win the Nobel for the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis.
By Barney Grubbs derivative work: MagentaGreen - This file was derived from: Nobel Laureates in Chemistry (2005) on stage.jpg:, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46738302
2008 CE
Osamu Shimomura Wins Nobel for GFP
Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie, and Roger Tsien win the Nobel for green fluorescent protein (GFP), a tool for organic chemistry and biology.
By Jawahar Swaminathan and MSD staff at the European Bioinformatics Institute - https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pdbe/static/entry/1ema_deposited_chain_front_image-800x800.png, displayed on https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pdbe/entry/pdb/1ema, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6307286
2010 CE
First Fully Organic Laser
Development of the first organic solid-state laser, using organic semiconductors.
By Originally uploaded by Deglr6328 (Transferred by LeastCommonAncestor) - Originally uploaded on en.wikipedia, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17937630
2016 CE
Nobel Prize for Molecular Machines
Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart, and Bernard L. Feringa win the Nobel for designing and synthesizing molecular machines.
By PKS615 - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=147658142
2018 CE
Directed Evolution of Enzymes
Frances Arnold wins the Nobel for directed evolution of enzymes, enabling environmentally friendly chemical synthesis.
By Thomas Shafee - Thomas, Shafee, (2014). "Evolvability of a viral protease: experimental evolution of catalysis, robustness and specificity". PhD Thesis. University of Cambridge., CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37193303
2020 CE
Emmanuelle Charpentier Nobel for CRISPR
Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna win the Nobel for CRISPR-Cas9, a gene-editing tool based on organic chemistry (though more biology).
By Deposition authors: Nishimasu, H., Ishitani, R., Nureki, O.; Visualization author: Synpath - Atom coordinates: https://www.rcsb.org/structure/4OO8; Visualization: Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133423568
2022 CE
First Organic Battery Using Polymers
Researchers develop an organic radical battery using polymer electrodes, a step toward sustainable energy storage.
2023 CE
Plastic Waste Upcycling via Catalysis
Advancements in catalytic upcycling of mixed plastic waste into valuable chemicals, a green chemistry frontier.
By USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency - Municipal recycling facilities, Montgomery County, MD. 2007, Credit USEPA, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51969963