Hermann Kolbe Book order

German chemist Hermann Kolbe was a pioneer in organic chemistry, credited with coining the term "synthesis" in its modern context. His work challenged the outdated doctrine of vitalism, demonstrating that organic compounds could be derived from inorganic ones. Kolbe developed methods for synthesizing acetic acid and predicted the existence of secondary and tertiary alcohols. His discoveries, such as Kolbe electrolysis and the Kolbe synthesis (also known as the Kolbe-Schmitt reaction), laid the groundwork for many future chemical processes, including the preparation of key pharmaceutical components.