Pelletier, Pierre Joseph

Pelletier, Pierre Joseph (pyer zhôzef' pelutyā') [key], 1788–1842, French chemist. With J. B. Caventou, he was cofounder of alkaloid chemistry and codiscoverer of quinine, strychnine, brucine, and other alkaloids. He also isolated such other substances as picrotoxin, caffeine, and piperine. He was especially noted for his introduction of new methods of generating organic substances.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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