Synthesis of norethisterone
Síntesis de la noretisterona
- Date
- 15 de octubre de 1951 · confidence high
- Place
- Syntex, Mexico City, Mexico
- Credited to
- Luis E. Miramontes, Carl Djerassi and George Rosenkranz
- People
- 👤 Carl Djerassi1923–2015👤 George Rosenkranz1916–2019👤 Luis Ernesto Miramontes Cárdenas1925–2004
- Field
- Matter & energy
What it is
Miramontes synthesised norethisterone, the first orally active progestogen, the basis of one of the earliest contraceptive pills. It ranks among the most influential Mexican patents.
Enovid, launched in 1960, used norethynodrel (Searle, Colton); Syntex's norethisterone reached the contraceptive market shortly afterwards.
What it led to
- the contraceptive pill (Ortho-Novum, 1962)
- hormonal gynaecological treatments
- the demographic and social revolution of birth control