(Author, Department, University,
Corresponding Address and email)
Dr. Albert Hofmann, a Swiss synthetic chemist, was born on January 11, 1906 (Luke, 2006). He was not from an economically stable family, and sometimes, due to the illness of his father, he was forced to work. He graduated from University of Zürich, and in 1929, he got his doctoral degree in medicinal chemistry (Pallardy, n.d.).
After completion of graduation, he started working with Sandoz as a Director Pharmaceutical-Chemical Research Laboratories Basel (Fusar-Poli & Borgwardt, 2008). During his work in the company, he was associated with the synthesis of compounds that are commonly found in medicinal plants (Pallardy, n.d.). He got popularity for his work on lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), which is a very potent psychotropic substance, on April 16, 1943. Due to his pioneering work on LSD, he is also known as the “Father of LSD” (Fusar-Poli & Borgwardt, 2008). He worked in the Sandoz Company until his retirement in 1971. After that he kept on working as a writer and lecturer. He also played an important role as a senior in the psychedelic community until his death near Basel, Switzerland. At the time of death on April 29, 2008, he was 102 years old (Fusar-Poli & Borgwardt, 2008).
Synthesis of LSD
Hofmann synthesized LSD in 1938. Actually, he was working on several chemical derivatives of ergot (Claviceps purpurea), which is a fungi found to be growing on rye. While working on the derivatives, he obtained a compound referred to LSD-25 – twenty five refers to the number in that specific series of ergot derivatives. Pharmacological labs tested that compound for any pharmacological activity but the results were negative. Therefore, the compound was placed on shelves along with other such chemicals of no pharmacological activity (Luke, 2006).
After the initial development, Hofmann didn’t give much consideration to the compound, and kept on working on some other derivatives of the compound. After five years of the synthesis of LSD-25, he conducted the re-synthesis of the chemical on April 16, 1943 for some research purposes. While working on the compound, he accidently ingested LSD and experienced “an extremely stimulated imagination” for the first time. After accidental ingestion of LSD, Hofmann noted substantial restlessness along with slight dizziness. He perceived several fantastic pictures and extraordinary shapes having intense level of colors. After about two hours, that condition faded away (Luke, 2006). After that accidental ingestion, Hofmann decided to verify the results of LSD by intentionally ingesting it on April 19, 1943. On that day, Hofmann experienced an incredible bicycle ride while moving towards his home, so that day is also known as “Bicycle Day” (Fusar-Poli & Borgwardt, 2008). After that intentional ingestion, Hofmann experienced a new sense of timelessness, and out-of-body experiences. He thought that he had died, and could see his body lying on the sofa. After a while, he perceived pleasing visual experiences and significant synesthesia, which is considered as the feelings of a sense perceived by another sense. Those effects of drugs faded after many hours of ingestion of drug (Luke, 2006).
The drug was found to be highly potent, i.e. only 50 micrograms of the drug could initiate psychedelic properties. In order to see the usefulness of the drug, Sandoz started distributing the drug freely to registered investigators throughout the world in the 1950s. The drug showed an enormous impact on the psychological science including psychotherapy and psychiatry. It was also thought that LSD and other such psychedelics could work for psychiatry just as the microscope work for biology and medicine. Use of LSD in improving creativity, inspiration, and problem solving also gained a huge popularity. It has also been reported that Francis Crick, who discovered the DNA double-helix and received Nobel Prize for the discovery, used LSD to work on the breakthrough. The drug also helped many artists, musicians, and language experts (Luke, 2006).
Initially, LSD was highly praised as a wonder drug for its use in psychoanalysis, especially for gaining information about schizophrenia (Fusar-Poli & Borgwardt, 2008). Then, in 1960s, Harvard’s Timothy Leary and collaborators found its use in spiritual enlightenment. Finally, the drug was considered as a recreational drug. At that time, LSD became a “Problem child” of Hoffmann, and the U.S. banned the use of the drug in 1966. After its ban in the U.S., other countries also banned the use of drug (Fusar-Poli & Borgwardt, 2008).
Other works of Albert Hofmann
Albert Hoffmann also successfully synthesized the active compounds in morning glory seeds (lysergic acid hydroxyethylamide and lysergic acid monoamide) and in the Psilocybe Mexicana (psilocybin). He also developed Methergine, which is helpful in the treatment of postpartum hemorrhaging, and Dihydergot and Hydergine, which are helpful in stabilizing the circulation and blood pressure (Fusar-Poli & Borgwardt, 2008). He also performed a research on many other plants such as Salvia divinorum in Mexico, and peyote, which became the source of mescaline, a hallucinatory alkaloid (Pallardy, n.d.).
Dr. Albert Hoffman published over 100 scientific articles. He also authored or co-authored many books (Fusar-Poli & Borgwardt, 2008).
References
Fusar-Poli, P., & Borgwardt, S. (2008). Albert Hofmann, the Father of LSD (1906–2008). Neuropsychobiology, 58(1), 53-54.
Luke, D. (2006). A tribute to Albert Hofmann on his 100th birthday: The mysterious discovery of LSD and the impact of psychedelics on parapsychology. Paranormal Review, 37, 3-8.
Pallardy, R. (n.d.). Albert Hofmann. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/biography/Albert-Hofmann
