有机大牛的十年人生、科研经验分享（Angew2012）.pdfVIP

. Angewandte Essays DOI: 10.1002/anie.201202348 Organic Synthesis “Black Swan Events” in Organic Synthesis** William A. Nugent* exploratory chemistry · homogeneous catalysis · ligand design · organic synthesis · transition metals These days one often hears the phrase “go viral” applied to You will notice that the first five examples are discussed in a particular internet video that becomes extremely popular in greater detail than the five that follow. As explained later, this a short period of time. I have been an avid reader of the situation is a consequence of the existence of two distinct chemical literature, especially that pertaining to organic subsets of stories, which I refer to as “change through synthesis, for 40 years now and have noticed that the same revolution” versus “change through evolution”. Undoubtedly, sort of spectacular event periodically occurs with areas of these categories are somewhat arbitrary. The first category research. These occurrences seem to go hand in hand with applies when a single paper instantly transforms a field and changes in “conventional wisdom”—those underlying as- destroys the existing paradigm. The latter evolutionary model sumptions that color our thinking and influence the choice of applies when no single contribution can undo the conven- experiments we are willing to undertake. tional wisdom; rather a “toolbox” of new methodology is When conventional wisdom is correct, it is extraordinari