was a

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe th ...

and the first to synthesize

methamphetamine Methamphetamine (contracted from ) is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity. Methamp ...

crystalline A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macros ...

form in 1919.

Career

In 1912, Ogata graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the

University of Tokyo , abbreviated as or UTokyo, is a public research university located in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1877, the university was the first Imperial University and is currently a Top Type university of the Top Global University Project b ...

. In 1919 he received a degree from the

Humboldt University of Berlin Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (german: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a German public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin. It was established by Frederick William III on the initiative ...

, where he had performed pharmacological experiments. In 1920, he was appointed assistant professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the university of

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.46 ...

, where he taught until 1948.

History

In 1893, methamphetamine was first synthesised from

ephedrine Ephedrine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is often used to prevent low blood pressure during anesthesia. It has also been used for asthma, narcolepsy, and obesity but is not the preferred treatment. It is of unclear benefit in ...

Nagayoshi Nagai was a Japanese pharmacist, best known for his study of ephedrine. Early life Nagai was born in Myōdō District, Awa Province in what is now Tokushima Prefecture, as the son of a doctor and started studying ''rangaku'' medicine at the Dutch M ...

and in 1919, Akira Ogata was the first to synthesise methamphetamine in a crystallized form. Ogata blended the red phosphorus and ephedrine, which is derived from an Asian herbal plant, to produce an amphetamine that could be dissolved in water. The procedure involved reduction of ephedrine using

iodine Iodine is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol I and atomic number 53. The heaviest of the stable halogens, it exists as a semi-lustrous, non-metallic solid at standard conditions that melts to form a deep violet liquid at , ...

and

red phosphorus Elemental phosphorus can exist in several allotropes, the most common of which are white and red solids. Solid violet and black allotropes are also known. Gaseous phosphorus exists as diphosphorus and atomic phosphorus. White phosphorus Whit ...

. Ogata's synthesis of methamphetamine replaced much more complicated earlier syntheses, and continues to be used as the basis for modern production and usage of the drug. Particularly, is the method favored in illegal drug production.

Amphetamine Amphetamine (contracted from alpha- methylphenethylamine) is a strong central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and obesity. It is also commonly used ...

was synthesized in 1887 by Lazar Edeleanu in Germany. Ogata released this new drug to a British-based pharmaceutical company. It was then introduced as a pill form to treat diseases such as sinus congestion, asthma, and depression. The drug took on a new form in 1934 by the German pharmaceutical company Temmler. A tablet was named " Pervitin". This was marketed in Germany where it was known as Herman-Göring Pill. It became popular among soldiers,

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German '' Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the '' Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabt ...

pilots, and even

Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Germany from 1933 until his death in 1945. He rose to power as the leader of the Nazi Party, becoming the chancellor in 1933 and the ...

. The new pill could keep tired pilots more alert and lift the spirits of those in battle. In Japan the drug was used as a workforce pill. It was called "Philopon" which means "love of work". It was given to military personnel as well as government factories. Many pharmaceutical companies in the US patented the methamphetamines under various names, one of which was called Obetrol. They treated extreme obesity as a way to curb the appetite. However, these pills were outlawed in the 1970s due to some of the obvious side effects.

References

Japanese chemists 1887 births 1978 deaths People from Osaka Prefecture University of Tokyo alumni Humboldt University of Berlin alumni Academic staff of the University of Tokyo Presidents of the Japan Pharmaceutical Association {{chemist-stub