The chemist Carl Gräbe was a regular guest of his father; thus after finishing the gymnasium, Friedländer studied chemistry in Königsberg in the laboratories of Gräbe. Later he studied at the Strasbourg and Munich where he assisted Adolf von Baeyer.
Carl Gräbe, a chemist, was a regular visitor to his father's home; this led Friedländer to study chemistry in Königsberg under Gräbe's guidance. Later, he pursued further education at Strasbourg and Munich, working alongside Adolf von Baeyer.