ISSN 00271314, Moscow University Chemistry Bulletin, 2010, Vol. 65, No. 2, pp. 114–117. © Allerton Press, Inc., 2010. Original Russian Text © O.N. Zefirova, M.V. Kiryukhin, I.E. Lubina, V.V. Lunin, 2010, published in Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Khimiya, 2010, No. 2, pp. 139–143.

Ivan Fedorovich Gutt (1879–1933) Part I. New Biographical Facts and Graduation Papers (Dedicated to the 130th Anniversary of His Birthday and the 75th Anniversary of His Death) O. N. Zefirova*, M. V. Kiryukhin**, I. E. Lubnina†, and V. V. Lunin*** Moscow University, Departments of Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry *Email [email protected] **Email: kiryukhin[email protected] ***Email: [email protected] Received December 22, 2008

Abstract—The archive study of Ivan Fedorovich Gutt’s (1879–1933) biography, a student of Professor N.D. Zelinskii, are presented. His graduation papers are described. Key words: history of chemistry, scientific biography, Moscow University, N.D. Zelinskii’s scientific school. DOI: 10.3103/S0027131410020112 †

Ivan Fedorovich Gutt (1879–1933) was one of the students of N.D. Zelinskii, the author of numerous publications on the chemistry of petroleum hydro carbons, he worked at Moscow University for more than ten years, before moving to Baku, where he completed a number of studies in the field of applied petrochemicals. A factual scientific biography of this talented scientist has practically never been pub lished in the historical and chemical literature (only a brief mention was made in his obituary [1]). In this respect, we have begun a detailed study of I.F. Gutt’s biography, his contribution to the development of chemical science in Moscow and in Baku [2, 3]). In this paper, for the first time, studies of materials from Moscow’s Central historical archive, the Rostov State historical archive, and the State Historical Archives of the Republic of Azerbaijan, concerning Gutt’s origins, education, graduate work at Moscow University, etc., are presented. Ivan Fedorovich (his real name is Iohannes Otto Friedrich August) Gutt was born June 24, 1879 in a family of Prussian nationals to a musician, Friedrich August Gutt, and his wife Bertha Iohanna Koch [4– 6]. There are conflicting reports concerning Gutt’s place of birth. In most documents, such as baptism certificate no. 99 from February 4, 1886 (issued by Pastor Kossman of Saratov’s Evangelical Lutheran Church) [5], as well as in Gutt’s autobiography [4], † Deceased.

1

Taganrog was listed as the place of his birth. However, in the record discovered in the register of the Rostov State archive, Ivan Fedorovich’s place of birth was listed as the city “Rostoff a/D” (RostovnaDonu) [6], Taganrog was mentioned as the place of his bap tism (August 8, 1879). Gutt studied in Moscow’s 7th school for boys. While studying in the eighth grade, on October 8, 1896, Ivan Fedorovich took the oath of allegiance to the Russia Empire (id. no. 2245) according to the Lutheran church rites [5, 7]. In fact, immediately after approval of his status as a Russian citizen, he was reg istered for military service and assigned to serve as a conscript in the third section of Moscow (certificate no. 820, dated December 30, 1896) [5]. In April 1897, Gutt was confirmed in the church of St. Peter and Paul 2

Church in Moscow [5]. In the same year (1897), Gutt graduated from school with a gold medal, in his graduation certificate, his success in the fields of logic, mathematics, physics, etc., were especially noted [5]. Desiring “to continue his education at Moscow University,” on July 15, 1897, Gutt requested the rector to be accepted “in the natural history department of physics and mathemat 1 Hereinafter,

the dates relating to the period before January 31, 1918, are reproduced in the form in which they appear in the relevant documents, that is, in the old style. 2 “Vospominanie o dne konfirmatsii” (“Erinnerung an den Tag der Konfirmation”) was preserved in the original in German [8], and in the form of a handwritten translation into Russian [5].

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ics” [5]. In 1897–1901 Ivan Fedorovich studied in Moscow University, where he began his scientific career, when he was a student in the laboratory of Pro fessor N.D. Zelinskii. In graduation certificate no. 259, dated April 28, 1901, all the courses, which Ivan Fedorovich attended for eight semesters at the university, are listed [5, 9]. Although “additional courses” are not specified, with a high degree of probability, we can assert that they were connected with organic chemistry, since organic chemistry was listed in Gutt’s application for admis sion to sit an examination as a subject of additional testing [10]. In April–May 1901, he took the final exams at the natural physics and mathematics faculty of Moscow university (F.F. Beilstein was the president of the examination board) [10]. Of the 63 graduates of the natural department, who were listed in the physics and mathematics statement of the examination com mittee [11], only four, including Ivan Fedorovich, received top marks in all examination subjects. Among the documents attached to the final exams passed by Gutt, we discovered his written examination paper in chemistry called “Sulfuric acid: its acquisi tion and properties” (about 5 pages) [10]. At the beginning of this work, Ivan Fedorovich, consistently and in detail, described the main characteristics of sul fur, the properties of its oxides (paying attention to SO3), and ways of obtaining them. Further, he out lined the significant features of the socalled “cham ber” method of obtaining sulfuric acid with the use of nitrogen oxides (up to 1920, that process was carried out in large leadacid chambers). It is interesting that, although a considerable part of the concerned work of Gutt is a description of the technology of the industrial process, it also contains the methods for obtaining sul furic acid. Moreover, the relatively new (at that time) theory of Lunge is mentioned, according to which “the intermediate product was nitrosylsulfuric acid, that is, SO2 (OH) (ONO)” [10]. From the standpoint of the history of chemical education, a part of Gutt’s examination work, describ ing the properties of sulfuric acid, is of great interest: “H2SO4 takes away water even from organic com pounds—carbonizing them (for example, wood, paper; however, a pure fiber solution decomposes without changes). Sulfuric acid is dibasic; alkali metals form two series of salts: neutral Na2SO4 and acid NaHSO4, etc. Of the salts of sulfuric acid, salts of cal cium, strontium, and especially barium (by its low sol ubility in water and acid) are typical. It is difficult to dissolve Pb, Ag, and mercury oxide salts. Other metals give more or less easily soluble salts, which, like H2SO4, in most cases are connected with water in crystalline hydrates. Sulfuric acid dissolves most met als, except gold, platinum, and the 8th group, which is close to it. When dissolved, some metals release hydro gen: Zn + H2SO4 = ZnSO4 + H2 or Fe + H2SO4 = FeSO4 + H2 (salts are called sulphates—zinc, iron, etc.). In the solution of others, there is a restoration of MOSCOW UNIVERSITY CHEMISTRY BULLETIN

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sulfuric acid into sulfurous Cu + 2H2SO4 = CuSO4 + SO2 + 2H2O. Saturated sulfuric acid, especially of a normal structure, does not influence saturate hydro carbon, in contrast to unsaturated sulfuric acid, espe cially aromatic, with which sulfonic acids are formed: for example, C6H5SO3H. With alcohols it forms esters, and, being a dibasic, forms two series of them: (1) neu tral SO2(OC2H5)2 and (2) acid = the socalled sulfur ester acid SO2OC2H5(OH). The barium salt of this acid is soluble” [10]. This fragment (according to modern concepts, corresponding to the course material on chemistry for high schools) well illustrates the difference between the level of requirements for graduates of Moscow University of the late XIX and early XX centuries and graduates of chemical universities in our days. In general, Gutt’s examination paper is a model of thoroughness in presentation. We found in it only one inaccuracy in the equation of the reaction, which occurs during the roasting of iron pyrites: “2FeS2 + 7O = Fe2O3 + 2SO2” (instead of 2FeS2 + 11O = Fe2O3 + 4SO2 or its modern variant: 4FeS2 + 11O2 = 2Fe2O3 + 8SO2). It is interesting to note that the examiners, apparently, did not pay attention to this inaccuracy. There are no corrections in this paper, and on the first page it is marked “very satisfactory” and signed by Professor Zelinskii, who was a member of the exami nation committee [10]. On September 18, 1901, Gutt was given higher education diploma no. 18464 of the first degree [10]. After completing his studies, Ivan Fedorovich was invited to stay on at the university for further research in the scientific field [12]. In the spring of 1901, among other formal documents, allowing him to stay at the university, he presented an essay entitled “Amides of carbon dioxide and their derivatives” [8]. This work, preserved in the Central Historical Archive of Mos cow, is a review of the scientific literature according the tradition of that time. This essay, 138 pages long, is remarkable for its detailed and logical presentation of the material, concerning urea and thiourea, and car bamic acid and its thioanalogues, urethanes, ureides, etc. The paper presents methods for the laboratory irradiation of these compounds (including methods proposed by Wöler, Liebig, etc.), and also describes their physical and chemical properties. Let us specify that this work presented by Gutt, includes a drawing (by hand) of the most complex Herrounass laboratory setup for the preparation of urea from ammonium cyanate, illustrating the technical side of the syntheses [8]. The choice of the theme “Carbonic acid amides and their derivatives” at first glance seems to be some what unexpected, because in Zelinskii’s laboratory, special studies of uric derivatives and related com pounds were not performed [13]. However, it should be noted, that the study of these substances at the beginning of XX century acquired a particular urgency, due to the attempts of determining the structure, bio logical functions, and the chemical nature of proteins,

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to which Gutt referred in his work. On May 27, 1901 Professor Zelinskii requested the head of the physics and mathematics department to allow Gutt to stay on “at the University in the department of chemistry for two years, with the support of the Ministry of Public Enlightenment.” In his statement, he described Ivan Fedorovich in the following words: “G. Gutt gradu ated with a diploma of the 1st degree this year; during the university course, he discovered his ability for research studies and experimental work. Sufficient knowledge with the chemical literature on the subject could be seen from the essay that Mr. Gutt presented to the Examination Commission: “Carbonic acid amides and their derivatives,” concludes all essential and important material that we know on this issue” [8]. Based on that statement, as well as on the request of the acting Dean of the Faculty, A.P. Sabaneev [8], from January 1, 1902, Gutt was allowed to prepare for a professorship [14]; moreover, he secured a grant of 600 rubles a year [8]. According to the “Instructions to I.F. Gutt for his scientific studies” presented by Professor Zelinskii when he was studying to become a professor, these studies should “consist in learning the original sources of classical and the most important researches in the field of chemistry in order to gain a thorough knowl edge of both the theory and methods that created modern chemistry”. Zelinskii also pointed out the fol lowing: “G. Gutt will continue to work under my direction …, experimentally acquainting himself with methods of scientific research” [8]. By 1904, that is, towards the end of the term of “the preparation for professorship,” Ivan Fedorovich per formed under the direction of Zelinskii great number of experimental works on the synthesis of naphthenic derivatives with organomagnesium reagents (the results of those studies were published in scientific 3

journals and reported at various meetings). In Octo ber 1904, having listened to Zelinskii’s report on Gutt’s scientific studies in preparation for professor ship, the Scientific Committee found them to be “fully satisfactory” [8]. Let us specify that by that time, Ivan Fedorovich had become a member of the Russian Physics and Chemistry Society (elected from May 13, 1904, more details, see [2]). On February 7, 1905, Gutt was named to the post of supernumerary assistant, without a salary, but with “the rights and benefits of service that were provided to a fulltime laboratory assistant” [8, 15, 16]. This post became vacant after the transfer of privatedocent S.G. Krapivin to the post of a fulltime laboratory assistant [8]. About a year later (April 28, 1906), Gutt was approved “in the rank of collegiate secretary gen eral with seniority from February 7, 1905” (that is, from the date of his appointment to the post of super 3 An

analysis of Gutt’s scientific works in the period 1901–1908, can be found in part 2 of this article.

numerary laboratory assistant) [8]. In his autobiogra phy, Ivan Fedorovich pointed out that in Moscow University he taught qualitative analysis and organic chemistry [4]. His researches of that period were mainly dedicated to studying isomerism of methylene cyclohexane methyl cyclohexene (and their deriva tives), as well as attempts to develop a method for the synthesis of tetramethylene—the founder of the little known series of the four members of alicycles at that moment. On February 5, 1908, Gutt was moved to the posi tion of fulltime laboratory assistant, which became vacant after the departure (November 16, 1907) of Krapivin [8, 17]. In December of that year, Gutt was promoted to the rank of titular counsellor “with seniority from February 7, 1908” [8]. In the archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Gutt’s note to Ver nadskii from that time (May 26, 1908) has been pre served [18], in which he reported about the crystallo graphic research carried out: “According to your expressed wish, I sent you the result of the measure ment of succinic acid. For the derivation of the average values of angles, I used your personal guidance. Although crystals that were at my disposal gave tolera ble reflexes …, nonetheless the axes’ ratio had a few differences from Vyrubov’s data. I hope that I was not mistaken in my calculations. I did not give any projec tion, drawing or description of the optical properties, 4

as they are all contained in Vyrubov’s work … In case you would like any explanations, I will be present all summer in the Chemical Laboratory and available at your service.” The contents of this document seems to us interesting, as it reflects the diversity of scientific problems, encountered by Ivan Fedorovich at work as well as his devotion to the laboratory. Gutt’s achieve ments were marked with an award of the order of St. Stanislaus of the third degree (January 1, 1909) [8]. In April 1911, in protest against the actions of the Ministry of Education of Public Enlightenment, over a hundred of lecturers left the University, including Professor N.D. Zelinskii. Consequently, on May 5, 1911, according to order no. 13653 of the Trustee of the Moscow school district, Gutt was formally placed in charge (temporarily) of superintendence of the eco nomic part of the laboratory of organic and analytical chemistry [19]. Perhaps, at that time, Ivan Fedorovich also decided to leave the University in solidarity with the faculty and especially with Zelinskii (this version appears in [1]). However, in fact, he left one year later; 5

this could be due to family circumstances. In October 1911, order no. 35517 was signed to allow the rector of Moscow University to “mandate fulltime laboratory assistant Gutt to conduct, in the 4 This

refers to “Practicheskoe rukovodstvo po kristallografii” (“Manuel pratique de cristallographie”) V.N. Vyrubov (1889). 5 In 1904, Gutt married Clavdiya Stepanovna Udalova [4, 8] and on May 31, 1911 they had a third child, a son called Georgii.

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current semester, workshops on organic chemistry at the laboratory of organic and analytical chemistry” [8]. This document is witness to the fact that during this period, Ivan Fedorovich actually performed all duties of the head of the organic section of the labora tory of organic and analytical chemistry of Moscow University. At the same, in 1911, Gutt passed the examination for the master’s degree in chemistry [4]; however, a copy of the certificate has not yet been detected (only indirect evidence has been found that Gutt received the certificate only at the beginning of 1912 [8]). On April 2, 1912 Ivan Fedorovich handed in his resignation, stating his intention to “work at the oil plant in Shibaeva in Baku …” [8]. On the same day, he was dismissed from his position of fulltime laboratory assistant at the laboratory of organic and analytical chemistry (on June 20, 1912 he was issued qualifica tion certificate no. 2635 [8]). In the summer of 1912, Gutt and his family moved to Baku, where he began a new phase of his scientific and teaching activities. In conclusion, it should be noted that made histor ical and chemical research gave an opportunity to sub stantially expand and clarify available information from the scientific biography of Ivan Fedorovich Gutt. The authors express their deepest and heartfelt gratitude to Irina Gutt (Lubeck, Germany), the granddaughter of Ivan Fedorovich Gutt, for providing numerous documents and materials, and for her assis tance in the work.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 15. 16. 17.

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obshchestva: istoriya, osnovateli, rol v razviti ikhimicheskogo obrazovaniya i nauki, under the editor ship of Tyutyunnik V.M., Tambov, Moscow, St. Peters burg, Baku, Vena, 2008, 251 p. Kiryukhin M.V., Zefirova O.N., Almanakh sovremen noi nauki i obrazovaniya, 2008, 81 p. Central Historical Archive of the Azerbaijani Republic Fund 32. Register 12b. File 44. Moscow Central Historical Archive Fund 418. Register 311. File 252. Central Historical Archive of the Rostov Region Fund 803. Register 2. File 706. Moscow Central Historical Archive Fund 54. Register 177. File 2826. Moscow Central Historical Archive Fund 418. Register 70. File 248. Moscow Central Historical Archive Fund 418. Register 70. File 369. Moscow Central Historical Archive Fund 418. Register 79. File 1355. Moscow Central Historical Archive Fund 418. Register 462. File 2249. Speech and report delivered at a meeting of Caesarian Moscow University, January 12, Moscow, 1902, 103 p. Zelinskii N.D., Sobranie trudov, vol. 1–4, Moscow, 1954. Moscow Central Historical Archive Fund 418. Register 83. File 410. Report of Caesarian Moscow University of 1905, Mos cow, 1906, 9 p. Report of Caesarian Moscow University of 1908, Mos cow, 1906, 9 p. Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences Fund 518. Register 3. Stock unit 495. Moscow Central Historical Archive Fund 418. Register 89. File 399.

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