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The original incentive was the outbreak of World War I, which cut America off from the previously-dominant European suppliers of organic chemicals. This is the first part from the lengthier history linked below: Prior to 1914, the industrial production of organic chemicals in the United States was very limited both in the number of compounds and quantities. ... Most organic compounds were imported from Europe; research chemicals for use in universities and industrial laboratories were imported from Germany (Kahlbaum's Chemicals), Great Britain (Boots Ltd.), and France. There were only a few small scientific supply houses that distributed small amounts of imported chemicals. Indeed, organic research in universities and industry was limited to a few schools and very few companies. In 1914, the outbreak of the war in Europe led to embargoes, blockades, and destruction of shipping, which meant that chemical supplies in the United States were quickly exhausted. ... Since all the industrial plants and laboratories were in use, the chemistry staff at the universities began to increase their “student preps” to make chemicals needed for research. Clarence G. Derick of the Chemistry Department at the University of Illinois in Urbana, actually initiated “Summer Preps” with about five students in 1914 before the war started. In the summer of 1915, Ernest H. Volwiler, a graduate student, joined Derick's prep group and was placed in charge during 1916 and 1917. Oliver Kamm, a member of the teaching staff after 1915, also helped in the prep work. http://www.orgsyn.org/history.aspx The war was also the beginning of organic chemistry for many American chemical businesses. The one I read about most recently was Hooker Electrochemical, which started making materials for high explosives and dozens of other things during the war. Originally it only manufactured sodium hydroxide and bleach. There's a long company-commissioned hagiography (nonetheless containing a lot of fascinating historical information) available here: "Salt & water, power & people: a short history of Hooker Electrochemical Company" https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015070160174&se... To me, Hooker is most notable for its contributions to the Manhattan Project and the development of hafnium-free zirconium used in the first pressurized water nuclear reactors. To most people, it's probably most notable (if known at all) for the chemical waste it left buried in Love Canal. It was absorbed into Occidental Petroleum in the 1960s and no longer exists as a separate entity. The history linked above encapsulates a lot of the changes in American chemical businesses between the World Wars even if this company is gone. |