From 1865 he studied chemistry under Robert Bunsen and Emil Erlenmeyer at the University of Heidelberg, then furthered his education in Leipzig as a student of Hermann Kolbe.

Afterwards, he relocated to Berlin, where he performed studies on alkali fusion of sulfonic acids in the laboratory of Karl Hermann Wichelhaus.

[1] His interest in the historical development of chemistry inspired him to compile an extensive collection of manuscripts of scientists ("Dokumentensammlung Darmstaedter") in the Prussian State Library at Berlin.

[1] From 1917 onwards, Darmstaedter financed Wilhelm Doegen's efforts to record speech samples of persons of public interest.

[2] Since 1952 the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize has been awarded in Germany for outstanding contributions in the field of medicine.