Nariman Mehta Biography 
Nariman Mehta was an American organic chemist and pharmacologist of Indian origin. He lived during the period, April 8, 1920 – August 22, 2014. As a chemist, associated with organic chemistry, the organic compound Bupropion is his best known contribution to the field. He designed, synthesized, and patented this compound, which has been widely used as an antidepressant and smoking cessation aid. He marketed this organic compound under the name Wellbutrin. His early education was done in Mumbai, before he moved abroad.
Nariman Mehta was born into a Parsi family in Mumbai in 1920. He studied at St. Xavier's College in Bombay, where he completed graduation in Chemistry, Physics, English and economics, followed by his Master’s degree. He was a student of Kaikhosrov D. Irani, a philosopher specializing in Kant and the philosophy of science. On a scholarship he moved to US for advanced studies. He took a PhD in chemistry from The University of Kansas. He married Barbara DeShane, and had three children.
After studies, he worked in US for many years. Initially he joined as a trainee in the research lab of Seagram. After that he continued with his research works and also taught at many universities and colleges. He has also worked with pharmaceutical companies like Seagram, GlaxoSmithKline etc. he specialized his research works in organic chemistry. He published a few of his research works such as “The Chemistry of Bupropion" in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, "Maleamic and citraconamic acids, methyl esters, and imides" in The Journal of Organic Chemistry etc. while working with Burroughs Wellcome, now known as GlaxoSmithKline, he synthesized and obtained the patent for Bupropion in 1969, used as an antidepressant since 1985.
Published: October 30, 2018
Updated: October 30, 2018
