Otto Wallach

Otto Wallach was a German chemist known for his pioneering work in the chemistry of natural compounds called alkaloids and essential oils. He developed methods to identify and analyze complex plant substances, which helped advance our understanding of flavors, fragrances, and plant-based medicines. Wallach's research also contributed to the study of aliphatic compounds—carbon-based molecules with straight or branched chains—laying groundwork for later discoveries in organic chemistry. His contributions earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1910, highlighting his importance in expanding knowledge of organic molecules and their structures.