Some Major Steps in the Understanding of the Chemistry and Biochemistry of Chl - Chlorophyll Biosynthesis and Technological Applications - page 4

1.1.13 Willstatter and Stoll, 1911
In1911, Willstatter and Stoll discovered and named Phytol (the major esterifying
alcohol of Chl at position 7 of the macrocycle), pheophorbide (chlorophyllide
without the central Mg-atom), chlorophyllase (the enzyme that de-esterifies Chl)
and allomerization (Willsttater and Stoll 1911 ). The products of allomerization vary
with the circumstances, but they all have oxygen instead of hydrogen bonded to
C-10 of the Chl molecule.
1.1.14 Kuster, 1913
In 1913, Kuster proposed a correct formula for the ring system of porphyrins in
which four pyrrole rings are linked together into a macrocycle by 4 methine bridges
(Kuster 1913 ). He was violently criticized by Fischer, the father of contemporary
porphyrin chemistry who believed that such a large structure would be highly
unstable. Later Fischer accepted the structure proposed by Kuster when he achieved
the total synthesis of protoheme.
1.1.15 Willstatter and Stoll, 1913
In 1913, Willstatter and Stoll published a monograph that summarized most of the
research findings of Willstatter and collaborators and ushered the modern era of
the field of Chl chemistry (Willsttater and Stoll 1913 ). Willstatter got the Nobel
Prize for his porphyrin and Chl work.
1.1.16 Fischer and Lowenberg, 1928
In 1928, Fischer and Lowenberg established the structure of phytol (Fischer and
Lowenberg 1928 ). Phytol is the major alcohol that esterifies the propionic acid
residue of Chl at position 7 of the Chl macrocycle.
1.1.17 Fischer and Lowenberg, 1929
In 1929, Fischer and Lowenberg synthesized phytol form pseudoionone (Fischer
and Lowenberg 1929 ).