Molecular Complexity

"Organic chemistry is an area of modern science, which is in highest demand today as it helps to improve the quality of human life and health and to design new generations of pharmaceuticals, including those for the prevention and treatment of socially important diseases. Most of current industrial processes are associated with the synthesis and processing of organic substances. The organic molecules are and will remain key players of the fuel and energy sector (hydrocarbons refining) and top priorities in the long-term development of chemical industry.

Nevertheless, the destiny of organic chemistry over the last decades has been changed dramatically. The application of organic substances and methodologies of their synthesis have actually replaced the fundamental chemical research in the minds of scientists and experts. This part of chemical science has almost disappeared from development programs and road maps and only a small number of research foundations and grant programs support basic research in organic chemistry. Bright and rapidly evolving applications of organic substances and large-scale research initiatives (pharma, bio, nano, energy, and materials) have largely pushed aside basic science in the synthesis of organic molecules as a real source of R&D and innovations.

Russian Chemical Reviews published a unique review prepared by a team of Russian scientists (No. 10, 2014), who represent key research areas of modern chemistry. The review reveals an intriguing trend in the development of organic chemistry – "atomic precision" in performing chemical reactions, which is the frontline of the synthesis and transformation of organic molecules. In my opinion, contemporary science in organic chemistry urgently needs publications that would give impetus to new academic programs and, further on, to the development of basic research.

The successful work of the large team of authors from 13 academic institutes and universities is presented in 14 sections of the review. Of course, it is impossible to give a detailed analysis of all current trends in the development of organic chemistry. However the review, which has no analogs in recent literature, sets an optimal balance in the presentation of the field. I am confident that the review will be very useful for the broad audience."

Director of Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry
of Russian Academy of Sciences
Academician, Prof. М.P. Egorov

Development of the Methodology of Modern Selective Organic Synthesis: Preparation of Functionalized Molecules with Atomic Precision

"The challenges of the modern society and the growing demand of high-technology sectors of industrial production bring about a new phase in the development of organic synthesis. A cutting edge of modern synthetic methods is introduction of functional groups and more complex structural units into organic molecules with unprecedented control over the course of chemical transformations. Analysis of the state-of-the-art achievements in selective organic synthesis indicates the appearance of a new trend — the synthesis of organic molecules, biologically active compounds, pharmaceutical substances, and smart materials with absolute selectivity. Most advanced approaches to organic synthesis anticipated in the near future can be defined as 'atomic precision' in chemical reactions. The review considers selective methods of organic synthesis suitable for transformation of complex functionalized molecules under mild conditions. Selected key trends in the modern organic synthesis are considered including the preparation of organofluorine compounds, catalytic cross-coupling and oxidative cross-coupling reactions, atom-economic addition reactions, methathesis processes, oxidation and reduction reactions, synthesis of heterocyclic compounds, design of new homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic systems, application of photocatalysis, scaling up of synthetic procedures to industrial level and development of new approaches to investigation of mechanisms of catalytic reactions."

The review article:

Ananikov V.P., Khemchyan L.L., Ivanova Yu.V., Bukhtiyarov V.I., Sorokin A.M., Prosvirin I.P., Vatsadze S.Z., Medved'ko A.V., Nuriev V.N., Dilman A.D., Levin V.V., Koptyug I.V., Kovtunov K.V., Zhivonitko V.V., Likholobov V.A., Romanenko A.V., Simonov P.A., Nenajdenko V.G., Shmatova O.I., Muzalevskiy V.M., Nechaev M.S., Asachenko A.F., Morozov O.S, Dzhevakov P.B., Osipov S.N., Vorobyeva D.V., Topchiy M.A., Zotova M.A., Ponomarenko S.A., Borshchev O.V., Luponosov Y.N., Rempel A.A., Valeeva A.A., Stakheev A.Yu., Turova O.V., Mashkovsky I.S., Sysolyatin S.V., Malykhin V.V., Bukhtiyarova G.A., Terent'ev A.O., Krylov I.B., "Development of New Methods in Modern Selective Organic Synthesis: Preparation of Functionalized Molecules with Atomic Precision", Russ. Chem. Rev., 2014, 83, 885 - 985; DOI: 10.1070/RC2014v083n10ABEH004471. On-line link