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Luis E. Miramontes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In thisSpanish name,the first or paternalsurnameisMiramontesand the second or maternal family name isCárdenas.
Luis E. Miramontes
Luis E. Miramontesc.1953
Born
Luis Ernesto Miramontes Cárdenas

(1925-03-16)16 March 1925
Tepic,Nayarit,Mexico
Died13 September 2004(2004-09-13)(aged 79)
Mexico City,Mexico
Alma mater
Known for
Awards
  • Mexican National Prize in Chemistry (1986)
  • Top Chemical Engineer of all times (2011)
Scientific career
FieldsChemistry,chemical engineering
Institutions

Luis Ernesto Miramontes Cárdenas(March 16, 1925 – September 13, 2004) was a Mexican chemist known as co-inventor and the first to synthesize an oral contraceptive,progestinnorethisterone.

Career Summary

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Miramontes was born inTepic,Nayarit.He obtained his first Degree in chemical engineering at theUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México(UNAM). He was a founding researcher of the Institute of Chemistry of UNAM, specializing mainly in the area ofOrganic Chemistry.He was a professor of the Faculty of Chemistry of UNAM, Director and professor of the School of Chemistry at theUniversidad Iberoamericana,and deputy director of research at theMexican Institute of Petroleum(IMP). Miramontes was a member theAmerican Chemical Society(Emeritus), the Mexican Institute of Chemical Engineers, the National Institute of Chemical and Chemical Engineers, the Chemical Society of Mexico, theAmerican Institute of Chemical Engineersand theNew York Academy of Sciences.He died inMexico Cityin 2004.

The scientific contributions of Luis Miramontes are extensive, including numerous publications and nearly 40 national and international patents in different areas such asorganic chemistry,pharmaceutical chemistry,petrochemistryandatmospheric chemistryand polluting agents.

First Synthesis of an Oral Contraceptive

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George Rosenkranz(right) and Luis E. Miramontes (left), 2001 at theUNAM

On October 15, 1951, under the supervision ofCarl Djerassiand the direction ofGeorge RosenkranzatSyntexlaboratory in Mexico City, Miramontes completed the first ever synthesis of an oral contraceptive: progestin norethisterone.

While Djerassi is sometimes regarded as 'Father of the Pill' ".,[1]it was Miramontes, working under Djerassi's supervision, that achieved the first synthesis. In the words of Djerassi, "On 15 October 1951, Luis Miramontes, a young Mexican chemist doing his undergraduate bachelor's thesis work at Syntex completed the synthesis of the 19-nor-17α-ethynyltestosterone or, for short 'norethisterone'—which turned out to be the first oral contraceptive to be synthesized.".[2]Nobel LaureateMax Perutzadded "the chemistry student Luis Miramontes, working under the direction of Djerassi and the director of the laboratory Jorge Rosenkranz synthesized the compound".[3]The last step of the synthesis method was registered on page 114 of the Miramontes's personal laboratory notebook (signed).

All three Miramontes, Djerassi, and Rosenkranz are listed on the patent as co-inventors.

Recognition

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Patent of the first oral contraceptive, elected to the USA Inventors Hall of Fame.
  • In 1964, the contraceptive pill was chosen by theUS Department of Patentsas one of the 40 registered more importantinventionsbetween 1794 and 1964. The name of Luis Miramontes appeared next toPasteur,Edison,Bell,theWright brothersand others of equal stature. It was included in the "USA Inventors Hall of Fame".[4]
  • In 1985 he received the "Estado de Mexico"Medal, in the area of sciences and arts;[5]as well as a public recognition from the government of the state of Nayarit, and an academic recognition from the Technological Institute ofTepic.
  • He received the Mexican National Prize on Chemistry "Andrés Manuel del Rio"in 1986.
  • In 1989 he became a "pugwashite",that is, member of thePugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs,organization promoting peace and world development, after attending the 39th Pugwash Conference: Building Global Security through Cooperation held at Cambridge, USA.[6]The Pugwash Conferences were awarded the PeaceNobel Prizein 1995.
  • In 1992 the General Hospital of Zone no. 1, of the Mexican Institute of Social Security, inTepic,Nayarit,was named "Luis Ernesto Miramontes Cardenas Hospital".[7]
  • In 1994 the Mexican Ministry of Health recognized his scientific contributions, when installing the National Program on Family Planning inMexico.
  • He received in 1998, on behalf of the government of the state ofNayarit,the "Amado Nervo" Medal.
Luis E. Miramontes (right) with Nobel LaureateMario Molina,ca. 1995
  • In 2000, thecontraceptive pillwas denominated three times as one of the most important inventions of the last 2000 years, by a group of outstanding persons, that included severalNobel laurates.[8]
  • In 2001, at the 50th Anniversary of the synthesis ofnorethisterone,theUNAMand the Mexican Ministry of Health, organized individual tributes to Miramontes and Rosencraz.
  • In 2003,norethisteronewas considered one of the most important 17 molecules that have influenced the history of humankind.[1]
  • In 2004, the invention of Luis E. Miramontes was chosen as the twentieth most important one of all the times. The election was organized bySCENTA,an initiative of TheEngineering and Technology Board of the United Kingdom.
  • In 2005, theMexican Academy of Sciences,named the invention of Miramontes as the Mexican most important contribution to world science ever.[9]
  • In 2009, theBBCof London nominated him as one of the five most important Latin American researchers of all the times[10]
  • In 2009, The School of Chemistry ofUNAMrecognized him as one of the most successful and important scientists to have received a degree from it[11]
  • In 2009, The School of Chemistry ofUNAMhonored him by naming the 2009 year prize QUIMIUNAM after him.[12]
  • In 2010, TCE Today, published by theIChemEregarded him "one of the chemical engineers who changed the world"[13]
  • In 2010, The Innovators of America initiative nominated him a top Icon & Legend of America[14]
  • In 2011 was named one of the world’s most influential chemical engineers of all time by theIChemE(Institution of Chemical Engineers).[15]
  • In 2011, The Mexican Institute of Chemical EngineersIMIQnamed after him the Prize "Ing. Luis Ernesto Miramontes Cárdenas" aimed to recognize outstanding Mexicans in Chemical Engineering R&D.[16]

Luis E. Miramontes,Andrés Manuel del Río(discoverer ofvanadium) andMario Molina,ChemistryNobel Prizein 1995, are the three most important Mexican chemists of all time.

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  • Miramontes L; Rosenkranz G; Djerassi C. 1951Journal of the American Chemical Society73 (7): 3540-3541 Steroids.22. The Synthesis Of 19-Nor-Progesteronedoi:10.1021/ja00007a060
  • Sandoval A; Miramontes L; Rosenkranz G; Djerassi C. 1951Journal of the American Chemical Society73 (3): 990-991. Thedienone–phenol rearrangementdoi:10.1021/ja01147a029
  • Sandoval A; Miramontes L; Rosenkranz G; Djerassi C;Sondheimer F.1953Journal of the American Chemical Society75 (16): 4117-4118 Steroids.69. 19-Nor-Desoxycorticosterone, A Potent Mineralocorticoid Hormonedoi:10.1021/ja01112a544
  • Mancera O; Miramontes L; Rosenkranz G; Sondheimer F; Djerassi C. 1953Journal of the American Chemical Society75 (18): 4428-4429 Steroidal Sapogenins.28. The Reaction Of Peracids With Enol Acetates Of Delta-8-7-Keto And Delta-8-11-Keto Steroidal Sapogeninsdoi:10.1021/ja01114a009
  • Djerassi C; Miramontes L; Rosenkranz G. 1953Journal of the American Chemical Society75 (18): 4440-4442 Steroids.48. 19-Norprogesterone, A Potent Progestational Hormonedoi:10.1021/ja01114a013
  • Djerassi C; Miramontes L; Rosenkranz G; Sondheimer F. 1954Journal of the American Chemical Society76 (16): 4092-4094 Steroids.54. Synthesis Of 19-Nor-17-Alpha-Ethynyltestosterone And 19-Nor-17-Alpha-Methyltestosteronedoi:10.1021/ja01645a010
  • Miramontes L; Aguinaco P; Romero MA. 1960Journal of the American Chemical Society82(23): 6153-6155 Synthesis of 6-Methyl Steroidsdoi:10.1021/ja01508a045

Patented inventions

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  • Carl Djerassi, Luis Miramontes, George Rosenkranz (1956),Delta 4-19-nor-17 Alpha -ethinylandrosten-17beta-ol-3-one and process,United States Patent 2744122
  • Carl Djerassi, Luis Miramontes (1956),Cyclopentanophenanthrene derivatives and compounds,United States Patent 2759951.
  • Carl Djerassi, Luis Miramontes, George Rosenkranz (1956),17 Alpha -methyl-19-nortesterone,United States Patent 2774777.
  • Miramontes Luis E., Romero Miguel A, Ahuad Farjat Fortunato (1959),Preparation of 6-methyl steroids of the pregnane series from diosgenin,United States Patent 2878246.
  • Miramontes Luis E., Romero Miguel A, Fritsche O,Preparation of 6-methyl steroids of the pregnane series,United States Patent 2878247.
  • Miramontes Luis E. (1959),Procedure for obtaining sapogenins from natural un-dried products,United States Patent 2912362.
  • Carl Djerassi, Luis Miramontes, George Rosenkranz (1959),DELTA.4-19-NOR-17. Alpha.-ETHINYLANDROSTEN-17.beta.-OL-3 ONE,Canada Patent CA 571510
  • Miramontes Luis E., Romero Miguel A (1960),12 Alpha -hydroxy-12beta-methyltigogenin and 12-methylene steroids derived therefrom,United States Patent 2954375.
  • Miramontes Luis E., Romero Miguel A, Ahuad Farjat Fortunato (1961),3beta-alkanoyloxy-6-methyl-5,16-pregnadien-20-ones,United States Patent 3000914.
  • Miramontes Luis E. (1961),Process for the production of 3beta-hydroxy-16 Alpha, 17 Alpha -epoxy-5-pregnen-20-one,United States Patent 3004967.
  • Miramontes Luis E. (1961),Resolution of sapogenin mixtures and intermediate products,United States Patent 3013010.
  • Miramontes Luis E. (1962),Hecogenin azine and alkyliden-azinotigogenins,United States Patent 3033857.
  • Miramontes Luis E., Fritsche Oscar, Romero Miguel A (1963),DEHYDRO-OXYGENATED-6-METHYL-16. Alpha.,17. Alpha.-EPOXYPREGN-20-ONE-DERIVATIVES,Canada Patent CA 673756.
  • Miramonte, Luis E., Flores Humberto J (1968),Process for isolation of solanum alkaloids from solanum plants,United States Patent 3385844.
  • Miramonte, Luis E. (1972),Process for the conversion of exhaust gases of the internal combustion engines into harmless products,United States Patent 3808805.
  • Miramontes Luis E., Castillo Cervantes Salavador, Moran Pineda Florencia M (1996),Catalytically active ceramic monoliths for the reduction of leaded gasoline-fueled engine pollutants and the production thereof,United States Patent 5534475.

References

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  1. ^abPenny Le Couteur & Jay Burreson. Napoleon's Buttons. Tarcher; Reprint edition (May 24, 2004)
  2. ^Carl Djerassi.This Man's Pill: Reflections on the 50th Birthday of the Pill.Oxford University Press 2001.
  3. ^Max F. Perutz. I Wish I’d Made You Angry Earlier: Essays on Science, Scientists, and Humanity. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 1998.
  4. ^"Hispanic Heritage and Inventions".United States Patent and Trademark Office.
  5. ^"Award ceremony of the Presea Edo Mex to Luis E. Miramontes".youtube. 5 January 2010.
  6. ^"39th Pugwash Conference: Building Global Security through Cooperation"(PDF).Springer.
  7. ^"Hospital IMSS Luis Ernesto Miramontes Cárdenas".UNAM. Archived fromthe originalon 2022-11-09.Retrieved2019-11-28.
  8. ^John Brockman, editor.The Greatest Inventions of the Past 2000 Years.Phoenix. 2000
  9. ^"La síntesis de un molécula revolucionaria".UNAM. 22 March 2019.
  10. ^"BBC Mundo - Ciencia y Tecnología - Latinoamericanos que cambiaron el mundo".Bbc.co.uk. 1970-01-01.Retrieved2013-10-14.
  11. ^"Aporte historico y revolucionario de un egresado de la DQ"(PDF)(in Spanish). Quimica.unam.mx. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2012-03-01.Retrieved2013-10-14.
  12. ^"Quimiunam".Cienciasquimicas.posgrado.unam.mx. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-10-22.Retrieved2013-10-14.
  13. ^[1]ArchivedMarch 20, 2011, at theWayback Machine
  14. ^"Innovadores de America".innovadoresdeamerica.org.Archived fromthe originalon 26 July 2011.Retrieved17 January2022.
  15. ^"Haber and Bosch named top chemical engineers".Icheme.org. 2011-02-21. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-10-05.Retrieved2013-10-14.
  16. ^"Ing. Luis E. Miramontes".Imiq.mx.Retrieved2013-10-14.
  • Lara V. Marks. Sexual Chemistry: A History of the Contraceptive Pill.372 pp. New Haven, Conn., Yale University Press, 2001.
  • Carl Djerassi. Steroids Made It Possible. American Chemical Society, Washington
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