2 Work and research

Ružicka's first works originated during that period in the field of chemistry of natural compounds. He remained in this field of research all his life. He investigated the ingredients of the Dalmatian insect powder ( Pyrethrum cinereriifolium ), a highly esteemed insecticide. In this way, he came into contact with the chemistry of terpene, a fragrant oil of vegetable origin, interesting to the perfume industry. He intended to start individual research and even started successful and productive cooperation with Cie Company (later Firmenich) in Geneva.

In 1916-1917, he received the support of the oldest perfume manufacturer in the world Haarman & Reimer, of Holzminden in Germany. With expertise in the terpene field, he became senior lecturer in 1918, and in 1923, honorary professor at the ETH ( Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule) as well the University in Zurich. Here, with a group of his doctoral students, he proved the structure and existence of the compounds of muscone and civet, the scents derived from the musk deer and the civet cat.

In 1921, the Geneva perfume manufacturers Chuit, Naef & Firmenich asked him to collaborate. Working here, Ružicka achieved financial independence, but not as big as he did plan so he left Zurich to start working for the Ciba , Basle ( Basel)- based company. In 1927, he took over the organic chemistry chair at Utrecht University in Netherlands. In Netherlands he remained for three years, and then returned to Switzerland, which was superior in its chemical industry.

Back to Zurich, at ETH he became professor of organic chemistry and started the most brilliant period of his professional career. He widened the area of his research, adding to it the chemistry of higher terpenes and steroids. After the successful synthesis of sex hormones ( androsterone and testosterone), his laboratory became the world center of organic chemistry.

In 1939, he won the Nobel prize for chemistry with Adolf Butendandt . In 1940, following the award, he was invited by the Croatian Chemical Association , where he delivered a lecture to an over packed hall of dignitaries. The topic of the lecture was From the Dalmatian insect powder to sex hormones. During the World War II, some of his excellent collaborators were lost, but Ružicka restructured his laboratory with new, younger and promising people; among them was young scientist Vladimir Prelog. With new people and ideas new research areas were opened.

Following 1950, Ružicka returned to chemistry, which had entered a new era of research. Now he turned to the field of biochemistry, the problems of evolution and genesis of life, particularly to the biogenesis of terpenes. He published a hypothesis titled Biogenetic isoprene rule, which was the peak of his scientific career. Ružicka retired in 1957, turning over the running of the laboratory to his assistant and future Nobel laureate Vladimir Prelog.

Ružicka dedicated significant efforts to the problems of education. He insisted on a better organization of academic education and scientific work in the new Yugoslavia, and established the Swiss-Yugoslav Society . Ružicka became a honorary academician at the then Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zagreb. In Switzerland, the Ružicka Award was established, for young chemists working in Switzerland. In his native Vukovar, a museum was opened in his honour in 1977, but was demolished by the Serbian army in 1991 in the course of the Croatian War of Independence.

3 External links

• Lavoslav Ružicka
• Ružicka, Prelog, Andric Postal Stamps

Ruzicka, Lavoslav Ruzicka, Lavoslav Ruzicka, Lavoslav Ruzicka, Lavoslav Ruzicka, Lavoslav Ruzicka, Lavoslav

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