Is Organic Chemistry Really Growing Exponentially?

Abstract

In terms of molecules and specific reaction exam- Angewandte Chemie

Chemical space: limits, evolution and modelling of an object bigger than our universal library

“…81 ****** By analysing reactions gathered in Reaxys database, Grzybowski and his team found that new classes of chemical reactions have grown at most linearly from 1900 up to 2016. 81 They also found that the number of new classes of reactions becoming popular, that is frequently used to wire the chemical space, has been very small for the period studied. Their results show a core of popular reactions classes.…”

“…Their results show a core of popular reactions classes. The top 10 of these preferred reactions, arranged in decreasing order is: 81 1. Amide synthesis from carboxylic acid and amine.…”

“…98 Aer WW1, chemistry decentralised from Germany and other nations accommodated their research and production infrastructures to this new scheme, for instance the USA. 98 Interestingly, WWs have not permanently affected the expansion of the chemical space, as aer these events, chemical production recovered and returned to its 4.3% annual growth {{{{{{{The important role of organic chemistry in the evolution of the chemical space indicates that Grzybowski's results 18,65,81 on the organic chemistry side of the chemical space are likely representative of the whole chemical space. rate (Fig.…”

“…A reaction centre is made by the atoms and bonds undergoing changes in a chemical reaction. 81,121 This model would shed light on the future shape of the chemical space under the current preferences for amide formation reactions, alkylation of alcohols or phenols and the other classes of reactions constituting the current preferred toolkit of chemical transformations.…”

“…Nevertheless, this exponential growth of single reactions does not necessarily lead to an exponential growth of classes of chemical reactions. 81 ************By a class of chemical reactions I mean, for instance, Diels–Alder reaction.…”