Timeline — Historical Development of Key Reactions — Notes

Year	Scientist	Discovery/Contribution	Relevance to OC-07
1845	Hermann Kolbe	Kolbe electrolysis: decarboxylative coupling of carboxylate salts at anode	First electrochemical organic synthesis; gives R–R from RCOO–
1852	Alexander Butlerov	First synthesis of a sugar-like compound; developed structural theory	Foundation for organic structure understanding (C–C, C=O bonds)
1877	Emil Fischer	Fischer esterification: acid-catalyzed condensation of acid + alcohol	Fundamental esterification method; also discoverer of sugars, amino acids
1881	Hell	First paper on alpha-bromination of acids with Br2/P	First step of HVZ reaction
1887	Volhard	Improved and generalized HVZ with phosphorus halides	Established phosphorus role in HVZ mechanism
1887	Zelinsky	Extended HVZ to various halogens and carboxylic acids	Complete HVZ procedure established
1900	Victor Grignard	Grignard reagents (RMgX) — Nobel Prize 1912	Grignard + CO2 → RCOOH synthesis method
1912	Grignard Nobel Prize	Recognized for organomagnesium chemistry	Grignard + CO2 route to carboxylic acids
1939	LiAlH4 Discovery	Nystrom and Brown discovered LiAlH4 as a reducing agent	Enables RCOOH → RCH2OH reduction