C—H Functionalization: Collaborative Methods to Redefine Chemical Logie

摘要

In many fields of academic scientific research, collaborations come about quite naturally. One discipline, however, that has tended not to follow this pattern is organic synthesis. That is not to say that organic chemists don't collaborate, but synthetic organic chemistry is primarily considered an enabling science. Advances in synthesis empower research in many other fields, and synthetic organic chemists are often actively engaged in interdisciplinary collaboration. However, it is rare to find synthetic organic chemists collaborating with each other toward a goal within their own discipline. Many arguments could be put forth for this lack of cooperation, but perhaps the most convincing is that organic chemistry, compared to many other fields, when most effective, is readily accessible. It does not rely upon highly sophisticated instrumentation or facilities that are available only to a few. A fantastic new synthetic method would ideally be extremely easy to perform from readily available materials. So, what really distinguishes a research program in organic synthesis are the ideas behind the work. As a consequence, sharing one's most exciting research ideas and insights with other organic chemists is risky, because, in principle, it would not require too much effort for an organic chemist to take advantage of an open exchange of ideas with another. Hence, synthetic organic chemists need to establish a high level of trust before they can effectively collaborate within their own discipline.