Robert Robinson and penicillin: an unnoticed document in the saga of its structure

2007/09/24 by Rachel Curtis, J. H. Jones · 2 citations
Chemistry · Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics · #Synthesis and Catalytic Reactions #Synthesis of β-Lactam Compounds #Fluorine in Organic Chemistry

paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/psc.888

openalex publication_date 2007/09/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21

Abstract

Abstract A description and commentary is given for an unnoticed sheet of formulae and arguments in the hand of Robert Robinson concerning the structure of penicillin. In this undated document, probably of Autumn 1944, he set out his arguments for favouring a thiazolidine‐oxazolone structure over the actual β‐lactam structure. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cited by

• Development of the semi-synthetic penicillins and cephalosporins
• History of penicillin [wikipedia]

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