Klaus Grohe

Grohe was born in Ludwigshafen am Rhein on 16 January 1934. He studied chemistry at the University of Würzburg, where he completed a doctorate in 1964 on the synthesis of pyridine derivatives. == Career ==

Grohe joined the main research laboratory of Bayer in Leverkusen in 1965. After early work on organochlorine and organofluorine intermediates he moved into heterocycle synthesis for pharmaceutical research. In the 1970s he devised a new cyclocondensation strategy using o-halo(aroyl) halides to access quinoline and azaquinoline carboxylic acids—an approach that became known as the Grohe method. Court records from patent litigation in the United States have described the synthetic route and prior steps leading to ciprofloxacin within Bayer's program. He retired from Bayer in 1997. == Research and impact ==

According to the German Chemical Society, “nearly all modern fluoroquinolone antibiotics are synthesized using the Grohe method,” and subsequent optimization under Grohe’s supervision at Bayer contributed to later agents such as moxifloxacin and pradofloxacin. Reviews of drug-discovery history and heterocycle-based medicines also credit Grohe’s role in the origin of ciprofloxacin. == Awards and honors ==

• Otto Bayer Medal (1987), for work leading to the synthesis of ciprofloxacin; and again (2001) for lifetime achievements. • Honorary title Professor conferred by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (2010). == Philanthropy ==

In 2001 Grohe and his wife Eva established the Klaus Grohe Foundation at the German Chemical Society (GDCh). The foundation has awarded the Klaus Grohe Prize (since 2020 the Klaus Grohe Award) for outstanding work in drug discovery; since 2020 it has been endowed with €50,000 and focuses on scientists working in Europe. == Selected patents ==

• K. Grohe; H.-J. Zeiler; K. G. Metzger, "… quinoline/naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acids" (ciprofloxacin family), US 4,670,444; reexam. US 4,670,444 B1. • Formulations containing ciprofloxacin and related actives, US 4,844,902. == References ==