Advances in organic chemistry over the last 100 years推荐.pdfVIP

2 Advances in organic chemistry over the last 100 years C. A. Russella,b aDept. of History of Science, Technology and Medicine, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, UK MK6 7AA bDept. of History and Philosophy of Science, The University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge, UK CB2 3RH This chapter attempts to cover the last century of organic chemistry, inevitably in an impressionistic way. It highlights the most important developments relating to structure and its determination, stereochemistry, synthesis, new types of molecule that do not occur in nature, a limited selection of natural products, the rise of theoretical organic chemistry and the role of free radicals. The discussion opens with a state-of-the-art picture for 1904 (when Annual Reports made its first appearance) and concludes with some reflections on the position today, particularly in relation to the place of organic chemistry within science as a whole. 1 Introduction Scope Any attempt to summarise the chief advances in organic chemistry over the last 100 years must seem like an exercise in frustration. And such it is, given the rate of progress and exponential expansion in many areas. This Report therefore avoids any attempt to offer a summary of even the main discoveries. Instead it attempts to locate the origins of many familiar aspects of the subject today and to give a qualitative indication of how they have subsequently developed. Some kinds of deeper explanation are explored in the conclusion, as the growth of organic chemistry is placed in an even wider context. The Reporter is only too aware that almost every reader will regret that his or her speciality makes such a brief appearance or does not even appear at all. The demands of historical selectivity are usually