George Rieveschl (January 9, 1916[1] – September 27, 2007) was an American chemist and professor. He was the inventor of the popular antihistaminediphenhydramine (Benadryl), which he first made during a search for synthetic alternatives to scopolamine.[2]
After receiving his PhD in 1940, Rieveschl returned to the University of Cincinnati where he served as a professor of chemical engineering, and later a professor of materials science. At the university he led a research program working on antihistamines. In 1943, one of his students, Fred Huber, synthesized diphenhydramine. Rieveschl worked with Parke-Davis to test the compound, and the company licensed the patent from him. In 1947 Parke-Davis hired him as their director of research. While he was there, he led the development of a similar drug, orphenadrine.[5]
Rieveschl remained active in the Cincinnati-area science and arts community until his death at age 91 from pneumonia. He had contributed an estimated $10 million to his alma mater, according to a UC spokeswoman.[4]
The main life sciences building on the campus of the University of Cincinnati is named for Rieveschl.
