Chemists And Biochemists Codexery

Albert Hofmann

Swiss chemist who first synthesized and experienced LSD's psychedelic effects.

Last updated

The Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann was the first person to synthesize lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and to experience its psychedelic properties through ingestion.[1] Psilocybin and psilocin, the primary psychedelic compounds in magic mushrooms, were isolated, named, and synthesized by Hofmann's team.[1] On 29 April 2008, at age 102, Hofmann suffered a fatal heart attack in Switzerland.[2]

Key facts and history

His godfather paid for his education because of his father's low income.[3] In 1929, Hofmann became an employee of Sandoz Laboratories, studying the medicinal plant squill and the fungus ergot.[4] He first synthesized LSD on 16 November 1938 while researching lysergic acid derivatives.[5] Three days later, he intentionally ingested 250 micrograms of LSD, which was actually a strong dose.[6]

He also discovered the active compound of ololiuqui, ergine, to be closely related to LSD.[7] In 1962, Hofmann traveled to Mexico with his wife to search for the psychoactive plant Salvia divinorum.[8] In 1929, Hofmann completed his doctoral studies with distinction, having investigated the chemical structure of chitin.[3] While revisiting LSD on 16 April 1943, Hofmann inadvertently uncovered its potent effects.[9]

From Mexican mushrooms, Hofmann went on to isolate and synthesize psilocybin.[10]

What the research sources say

A 2017 Distillations article recounts that Hofmann accidentally touched his face while working with synthesized lysergic acid on 16 April 1943.[11] The same source notes Hofmann recorded his reactions in his journal after ingesting 0.25 milligrams of lysergic acid three days later.[11] That article states the study had Hofmann's blessing, as he always believed in the therapeutic properties of his "problem child"[12] A 2012 NFB.ca blog reports that at age 101, Hofmann wrote Steve Jobs to seek help transforming LSD into a "wonder child"[13]

The blog also notes that no one knows whether Jobs wrote back to Hofmann.[13]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Albert Hofmann" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hofmann, A. "Psilocybin und Psilocin, zwei psychotrope Wirkstoffe aus mexikanischen Rauschpilzen." Helvetica Chemica Acta 42: 1557–1572 (1959). (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Albert Hofmann" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Smith, "Albert Hofmann, the Father of LSD, Dies at 102", The New York Times, 30 April 2008 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Albert Hofmann" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hagenbach, "Mystic Chemist: The Life of Albert Hofmann and His Discovery of LSD", Synergetic Press, 2013, p. 16; Finney, "In Memoriam: Albert Hofmann (1906–2008)", CHIMIA, 28 May 2008, p. 444; "FamilySearch.org", ancestors.familysearch.org (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Albert Hofmann" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hofmann, "LSD – My Problem Child", 1980 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Albert Hofmann" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hofmann, "LSD – My Problem Child", 1980; Dr. Albert Hofmann; translated from the original German (LSD Ganz persönlich) by J. Ott. MAPS-Vol. 6, No. 69 (Summer 1969) (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Albert Hofmann" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hofmann 1980, p. 8 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Albert Hofmann" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Hallucinogenic Agents", Wright-Scientechnica, 1975, p. 98–144 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Albert Hofmann" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hofmann, "LSD: My Problem Child", OUP Oxford, 2013, p. 94–103, 108 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Albert Hofmann" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "LSD inventor Albert Hofmann dies", BBC News, 30 April 2008 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "Albert Hofmann" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bleidt, "Clinical Research in Pharmaceutical Development", Informa Health Care, 1996, p. 36, 42–43 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  11. Roberts, "High Times", Distillations, 2017, p. 36–39. facts only, no text reused. sciencehistory.org
  12. Leybold-Johnson, "Das Comeback von LSD", SWI swissinfo.ch, 21 March 2008. facts only, no text reused. swissinfo.ch
  13. Weldon, "Meet the Lab Coat-Clad Granddaddies of LSD", NFB.ca blog, 17 August 2012. facts only, no text reused. blog.nfb.ca

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Albert Hofmann (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

More in Chemists And Biochemists

Alfred WernerAugust KekuléAziz SancarBenjamin SillimanCarl Gustaf MosanderCarl Wilhelm ScheeleJacobus Henricus van 't HoffJean-Marie LehnJoseph BlackJoseph Louis Gay-LussacJoseph PriestleyJustus von Liebig

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

Spotted an error? Know more?

Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced

Comments

Loading…
Open in the interactive codex →