We like to think that no molecule, no matter its structural type, is out of the reach of chemical synthesis. The real question, however, is how elegantly and efficiently can we synthesize such complex molecules, and it is here that the synthetic chemists have to concentrate their efforts the most. Chemical synthesis is an exceedingly exciting, challenging, and fulfilling discipline, one that will always appeal to those talented youngsters who are destined to shape it further and ensure the continuation of its proud tradition as they strive to equal or even surpass Nature at her own game.

K. C. Nicolaou, Joys of Molecules. 1. Campaigns in Total Synthesis

 

I believe that chemical synthesis will make enormous contributions to human progress in the next century especially when coupled to biology and medicine. However, those developments will not be fully realized without great and continuing advances in the central disciplines of chemistry. There is so much that remains to be discovered, in my opinion, that today s chemistry will seem archaic to a 22nd century chemist. I envy the young people in chemistry who will experience the excitement and pleasure of making the many discoveries of the next century of chemical research. Yet, at the same time, I worry about whether the younger generations of this country and the world will aspire to high creativity and persevere to achieve their impossible dreams.

E. J. Corey, Impossible Dreams

 

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology
Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chinese Academy of Sciences
345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China

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