LSD
The Chemical Educator December 1, 2006 G. Wayne Craig, George B. Kauffman
Albert Hofmann's discovery of LSD, whether by chance or design, transformed pharmaceutical research by prompting investigations into how a chemical's structure is recognized and triggers physiological responses. The drug's extreme potency challenged Emil Fischer's conventional lock-and-key model for enzymes. Hofmann's scientific expertise and outstanding qualities may have been overshadowed by LSD's remarkable properties. This article introduces a series: the first piece covers Hofmann's discovery, LSD's use in meditation, creativity, consciousness expansion, treatment of mental illness, and its abuse as a pleasure drug; the third discusses Hofmann's life, chemistry, and passion for nature; a Festschrift commemorating his centenary is also reviewed.