LeBel, Joseph

LeBel, Joseph Achille. "Sur les relations qui existent entre les formules atom-iques des corps organiques et le pouvoir rotatoire de leurs dissolutions." Bulletin de la Sociiti Chimique [2] 22 (1874) 337-47. 

From the chirality standpoint the next fundamental development occurred in 1874, when the tetrahedral carbon atom was proposed as a basis for molecular chirality by the Dutch and French chemists Jacobus Henricus van t Hoff (1852— 1911) [47, 48] and Joseph Achille LeBel (1847-1930) [49], respectively, independently and almost simultaneously. The discovery of the asymmetric carbon atom (van t Hoff s terminology) finally provided the explanation for the existence of optical isomers and for the chiral nature of the molecules of optically active substances, including many drugs. In his original 1874 pamphlet proposing the tetrahedron [47] van t Hoff listed camphor as a chiral molecule, but the structure he gave (19) was incorrect. 

Del pine, M. Vie et oeuvres de Joseph-Achille LeBel. Paris Dupont, 1947. 

But there is no question that in the Societe chimique Wurtz had helped to create an important new organization with many allies in leadership positions, and an editorial platform from which to broadcast his views. No fewer than nine students of Wurtz became presidents of the Societe chimique - Philippe de Clermont, Charles Friedel (three times), Auguste Scheurer-Kestner, Edmond Willm, Armand Gautier (three times), Edouard Grimaux (three times), Joseph LeBel, Maurice Hanriot (twice) and Alphonse Combes and the society s editorial board was generally packed with members of his circle." ... 

Joseph AchiUe LeBel was one of the most important pupils and collaborators of Louis Pasteur. Both of than were interested in the salts of tartaric add (contained in wine), the tartarates. During the isolation of ammonium-sodium-tartarate, Pasteur and LeBel observed that two kinds of crystals appear (see figure bellow). Although these oystals are equal in shape they diffa in such a way as to be mirror picture of one anotha. 

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