Main Entry: diel·drin

Pronunciation: \ˈdē(ə)l-drən\

Function: noun

: a white crystalline persistent chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide C₁₂H₈Cl₆O

Diels \ˈdē(ə)ls\ , Otto Paul Hermann (1876–1954), and Al·der \ˈȯl-dər\ , Kurt (1902–1958), German chemists. Diels and Alder made an important contribution to organic chemistry with their development of a method for synthesizing a ring of six carbon atoms. This is now known as the Diels-Alder reaction, from which aldrin and dieldrin are derived. In 1928 Diels and Alder published their first paper on the subject. The insecticides aldrin and dieldrin were first prepared by the method which is now widely used in the synthesis of organic compounds. Diels and Alder were awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1950.