A SCHOOL FOR SYNTHESIS: R. B. WOODWARD AND THE WOODWARD RESEARCH INSTITUTE REMEMBERED

摘要

Almost 40 years ago the R. B. Woodward (RBW) Research Institute (WRI) closed its doors in Basel, responding to RBW's untimely death. Little is now known about the Institute and less published. No accurate, contemporary history of the WRI exists in any chemistry journal. Insiders' publications include Heu- sler's "The Woodward Institute" (1) and Vorbrüggen's Working with R. B. Woodward (2). Prelog mentions the WRI founding in his autobiography My 132 Semesters of Chemistry Studies (3), while Bowden and Benfey discuss the Institute in Robert Burns Woodward and the Art of Organic Synthesis (4). Other writings are a sub- entry in a popular online encyclopedia (5). Yet the WRI, because its operations and accomplishments informed Woodward's stellar career, continues to arouse interest within the international chemical community. It merits better treatment.