Discovery of the aldol condensation is usually attributed solely to Charles Adolphe Wurtz, a French chemist who trained Friedel and Crafts. However, the reaction was first investigated during the period 1864-1873 by Aleksandr Borodin, a Russian chemist who was also a self-taught and proficient composer of music. (Borodin’s musical themes were used as the basis of songs in the musical Kismet.) Borodin found it difficult to compete with Wurtz’s large, modern, well-funded laboratory. Borodin also lamented that his professional duties so burdened him with “examinations and commissions” that he could only compose when he was home ill. Knowing this, his musical friends used to greet him “Alexsandr, I hope you are ill today!”
(1058-Louden’s Organic Chemistry.)
Let me tell you about my sick-days: Some of my best projects. It’s been a while.
