Structure and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry

The jump from an understanding of organic chemistry at lower undergraduate level to that required at postgraduate level or in industry can be difficult. Many advanced textbooks contain a level of detail which can obscure the essential mechanistic framework that unites the huge range of facts of organic chemistry. Understanding this underlying order is essential in any advanced study or application of organic chemistry. Structure and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry aims to bridge that gap. The text opens with a short overview of the way chemists understand chemical structure, and how that understanding is essential in developing a good knowledge of chemical reactivity and mechanism. The remainder of the text presents a mechanistic classification of modern organic chemistry, developed in the context of synthetic organic chemistry and exemplified by reference to stereoselective synthesis and protecting group chemistry. This approach is intended to illustrate the importance and value of a good grasp of organic reaction mechanisms, which is a prerequisite for a broader understanding of organic chemistry. Written by an expert educator with a sound understanding of the needs of different audiences, the subject is presented with clarity and precision, and in a highly practical manner. It is relevant to undergraduates, postgraduates and industrial organic chemists.

Mark G. Moloney
Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford and St Peter’s College, Oxford.