Organic Synthesis: Wherefrom and Whither? (Some Very Personal Reflections)

Abstract

This perspective represents a (highly personal) examination of the past, present and future of synthetic organic chemistry. The central thesis posits that the confluence of factors that led to the “Golden Age of Natural Product Synthesis” in the second half of the twentieth century can be traced back to the identification of the therapeutic potential of steroid hormones culminating in the introduction of oral contraceptives. The tremendous benefits of those activities to the development of organic synthesis as a vibrant discipline led to the exponential increase in strategies and methods and the ability to tackle, larger and larger molecules of greater and greater complexity. The existential challenge to the health of organic synthesis is whether a similarly dynamic future can be anticipated and if so, to what end and how. Musings on potential answers to those questions are presented.

Power of Biocatalysis for Organic Synthesis

“… 3 Consequently, organic synthesis has become a highly powerful art providing versatile protocols to prepare molecules of and for our life. 4 − 14 Thus organic synthesis provides access to chemical compounds that cover our daily needs with respect to virtually every aspect of modern life, including clothing, hygiene, nutrition, transport, housing, and health.…”

“…Over almost two centuries, starting with Friedrich Wöhler, , researchers have developed synthetic methods to prepare various natural products and derivatives thereof as well as completely new molecules . Consequently, organic synthesis has become a highly powerful art providing versatile protocols to prepare molecules of and for our life. − Thus organic synthesis provides access to chemical compounds that cover our daily needs with respect to virtually every aspect of modern life, including clothing, hygiene, nutrition, transport, housing, and health.…”

The Relationship of William Henry Perkin, Jr. and Sir Robert Robinson: Teacher and Student, then Student and Teacher

“…In the life stories of Perkin and Robinson, their passions motivated and energized them throughout their lives. Perkin was personally [116] committed to performing his own experiments. He derived this passion from his father.…”

Exploiting the Nucleophilicity of the Nitrogen Atom of Imidazoles: One-Pot Three-Component Synthesis of Imidazo-Pyrazines

“…Therefore, it is important, for concepts like “efficiency of synthesis” [2] and “reaction mass efficiency” [3], to consider the real practical application of any synthetic project. For this reason, the identification of novel reactions enabling the one-pot assembly of compounds of medium structural complexity is an important field of research with significant implications for all chemistry branches [4]. Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) are among these types of reactions, allowing for the formation of three or four covalent bonds in one single chemical operation with a net reduction of time and chemical waste.…”