Reflections on Process Research 工艺研究的思考.pdfVIP

# Reflections on Process Research Edward J.J. Grabowski Merck Research Laboratories Merck Company, Inc. Rahway, NJ 07065 USA #Dedicated to my early Merck Mentors – Ed Tristram, Roger Tull, Pete Polack, Erwin Schoenewaldt, Mike Sltezinger, Earl Chamberlin, John Chemerda, Vic Grenda, Seemon Pines and Len Weinstock – a truly formidable bunch of teachers and scientists. The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined efforts of each individual. Vince Lombardi The kind invitation of the Editors of this Symposium Series to provide an introductory chapter affords me an excellent opportunity to reflect on what has been a thirty eight year career in Process Research – all at the Merck Research Laboratories. There have been monumental changes in organic chemistry during this time, and today the field of Process Research is being pulled in more directions than ever before. Regardless, my belief is that our principal objectives remain the same: the design of practical chemical processes to support drug development, and the discovery and definition of new synthetic methods to support process activities. When I was interviewing for a job in 1965 as the completion of my doctoral research approached, my thought was to be a medicinal chemist and engage in that alluring area called ‘basic research’. I suffered all of the preconceived notions about ‘process research’, and thought that I would have none of it. A EJJGChaptRevFinal.doc Printed 9/30/2003 1 number of the process groups that I visited clearly fit the stereotype,