crotonic acid in a sulfuric acid electro lyte at a mercury cathode was described by Christopher Wilson, Eugene Dineen, Ohio State university, and T. C. Schwan, Valparaiso University. It was reported that no dimeric products were obtained. Reduction to dihydro com pounds was slow and difficult but, with acrylic and methacrylic derivatives, poly merization was rapid. At both lead and mercury cathodes, crotonic acid was reduced to butyric acid, butyl alcohol, and crotyl alcohol. Sherlock Swann, Jr., University of Illinois, reported on work done with Κ. Η. Wanderer, H. J. Schaffer, and W. A. Streaker, on the electrolytic re duction of maleic acid to succinic acid in sulfuric acid solution. The cathodes used were copper, zinc, and nickel. The highest yield of succinic acid was ob tained at a mercury cathode and the lowest at bismuth and cobalt cathodes. Etching reduced the activity of copper cathodes, while increasing that of nickel. Others, with the possible exception of zinc, were not appreciably changed. Studies of the polarographic method as means for distinguishing between the opon and cyclic forms of phthaladehydic acid and its derivatives by Stanley Wawzonek and J. H. Fossum, at the University of Iowa, showed this tech nique to l>e effective. Data obtained from the structure of these derivatives, which are well known, in unbuffered and buffered media indicated that 2-benzoylbenzoic anhydride and di-2-benzoylbenzoyl sulfide have normal structures, while the mixed anhydride from acetic acid and benzoylbenzoic acid has a cyclic structure. The dropping mercury electrode in diazo chemistry was the subject of a paper by R. M. Elofson, R. L. Edsberg, and Patricia Mecherly, General Aniline and Film Corp. They report that it is possible to follow diazotization rates, coupling rates, etc., by using the drop ping mercury electrode for continuous recording of diazo concentrations. A feature which was especially well received was a round table concerned with industrial electro-organic processes. It was emphasized in the comments of a number of those present that a better understanding of the fundamental princi ples of electro-organic chemistry, which can be brought about through research, is likely to reduce some of the industrial disadvantages of processes of this kind, such as large investment required and large amount of equipment; difficulties of control; purification difficulties; dia phragm problems; and solubility, blend ing, and agitation. It was also con tended by some that it is useless on the basis of present knowledge to try to differentiate between certain mechanisms, for example, to decide whether a given reaction is produced by electron transfer or atomic hydrogen. VOLUME
2 7, N O .
The Caver · · ·
Folkers to Give liai rison Howe Lecture w
HEN Karl Folkers stands to de! liver the Harrison Howe Lecture before 1 the Rochester Section on Nov. 7, those in attendance will find it hard to believe that this very young looking man was born in 1906. But his list of accomplish ments is such that many men 20 years ι his senior would be proud to claim it as their own. As director of organic and biochemi cal research for Merck & Co., Inc., Dr. Folkers directs the research efforts of more than 50 chemists engaged in the I study of antibiotics, synthetic médicinale, hormones, and vitamins. The I isolation of B» was an outstanding I achievement of Dr. Folkers and his coI workers: Edward L. Rickes, Norman G. Brink, Frank R. Koniuszy, and Thomas R. Wood. His early desires to study the anti! pernicious anemia factor were hindered by the lack of suitable test methods 1 since the only known way to test for j the factor at that time was on a person suffering from pernicious anemia. At a meeting of gastroenterologists he : discussed the problem with Randolph I West of the Columbia University deli partment of medicine, who was also in| tcrested in pernicious anemia. Dr. West offered to provide the necessary clinical assistance, thus stimulating the research efforts. The work was delayed somewhat by the war, but on a visit to George M. Briggs of the University of Maryland in 1947, Dr. Folkers learned of the work of Mary Shorb in developing a relationship between liver extract and the growth of a microorganism, Lactobacillus lactis Dorner. Collaborating with Dr. Folkers and his coworkers, Dr. Shorb and Dr. Briggs developed a method of microbiological as
