Arthur John Birch,
AC CMG
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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
steroid
A steroid is a biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and a ...
s. In 1948 Birch published the first total synthesis of a
male sex hormone (
19-nortestosterone
Nandrolone, also known as 19-nortestosterone, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) which is used in the form of esters such as nandrolone decanoate (brand name Deca-Durabolin) and nandrolone phenylpropionate (brand name Durabolin). Nandrolon ...
), 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
A steroid is a biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and a ...
drugs and
antibiotic
An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention of ...
s – he also made the first simple synthesis of the ring A-B structure of
cholesterol. Birch published over 440 scientific papers and reports.
Early life and education
Birch won a scholarship to attend the
University of Sydney graduating with a
BSc in 1937 and a
MSc
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in 1938. He travelled to the
University of Oxford to undertake his
D.Phil., graduating in 1940.
Career
The hormone research he became involved with in 1940 was initiated by the
RAF who then believed German fighter pilots were given cortical hormones He remained a research Fellow at Oxford until 1948 working under Sir
Robert Robinson, when he became the Smithson Fellow at the University of Cambridge where he remained until 1952. At Cambridge he worked with Alexander R. Todd, Baron Todd, Lord Todd.
He returned to Australia in 1952 to take up a Professorship in organic chemistry at the University of Sydney, he was made a list of Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science, fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 1954. He held his position at the University of Sydney until 1955 when he took a similar position at University of Manchester, Manchester University. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1958.
Birch returned to Australia again in 1967 to establish the Research School of Chemistry at the Australian National University in Canberra, becoming its founding dean. He remained involved with the school until 1980. He served as President of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute from 1977 to 1978, and also chaired the 1977 Independent Inquiry into CSIRO.
He served as President of the Australian Academy of Science from 1982 to 1986. Birch was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1987 for his contributions to science in Australia. He was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, in 1994. He was also a founding member of the Australian Science and Technology Council.
Before his death in 1995, the Research School of Chemistry building at ANU was named the "Birch Building" in his honour.
History of the Research School of Chemistry
ANU
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birch, Arthur John
1915 births
1995 deaths
Chemists at the University of Cambridge
Australian chemists
Companions of the Order of Australia
Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science
Fellows of the Royal Society
Foreign Members of the USSR Academy of Sciences
Foreign Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Organic chemists
Alumni of the University of Oxford
University of Sydney alumni
University of Sydney faculty
Presidents of the Australian Academy of Science