George Rosenkranz
George Rosenkranz George Rosenkranz receiving the Biotechnology Heritage Award in Chicago, 2013 Born ( 1916-08-20 ) August 20, 1916 (age 102) Budapest, Hungary Nationality Mexican [1] Known for Synthesis of norethisterone, the first orally highly active progestin, used in one of the first oral contraceptive pills Scientific career Fields Chemist George Rosenkranz (born György Rosenkranz , August 20, 1916) [2] is a pioneering Mexican scientist in the field of steroid chemistry, who used native Mexican plant sources as raw materials. [3] [4] He was born in Hungary, studied in Switzerland and emigrated to the Americas to escape the Nazis, eventually settling in Mexico. [3] [5] At Syntex corporation in Mexico City, Rosenkranz assembled a research group of organic chemists that included future leaders from around the world, such as Carl Djerassi, Luis E. Miramontes and Alejandro Zaffaroni [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] Revolutionary advances in the und...