000 05823pam 2200349 a 4500
001 559807
005 20060706174333.0
008 900801s1991 dcua b 001 0aeng
010 $a 90045265
020 $a0841217742 (alk. paper)
020 $a0841218005 (pbk. : alk. paper)
035 $a(OCoLC)ocm22272921
035 $9ACM8016PU
040 $aDLC$cDLC$dIPL
043 $ae-ne---
050 00 $aQD22.H317$bA3 1990
082 00 $a540/.92$aB$220
092 $a540.92$bH299B, 1991
100 1 $aHavinga, Egbert,$d1909-1988.
245 10 $aEnjoying organic chemistry, 1927-1987 /$cEgbert
Havinga.
260 $aWashington, DC :$bAmerican Chemical
Society,$c1991.
300 $axvii, 122 p. :$bill. ;$c24 cm.
490 1 $aProfiles, pathways, and dreams
504 $aIncludes bibliographical references (p. 99-111)
and index.
505 00 $tEnjoying Organic Chemistry, 1927-1987 -- $tThe
Early Years: Doctoral Research and Study --
$tStereochemistry: Conformational Analysis -- $tVitamin D:
Photochemistry and Conformational Behavior --
$tPhotochemistry: Aromatic Photosubstitution -- $tShorter
Lines of Research -- $tPeptides and Proteins -- $tLearning
and Building -- $tEpilogue.
520 1 $a""How did you get the idea--and the good
fortune--to convince 22 world-famous chemists to write their
autobiographies?" This question has been asked of me, in
these or similar words, frequently over the past several
years. I hope to explain in this preface how the project
came about, how the contributors were chosen, what the
editorial ground rules were, what was the editorial context
in which these scientists wrote their stories, and the
answers to related issues. Furthermore, several authors
specifically requested that the project's boundary
conditions be known." "As I was preparing an article for
Chemical Reviews on the Curtin-Hammett principle, I became
interested in the people who did the work and the human side
of the scientific developments. I am a chemist, and I also
have a deep appreciation of history, especially in the sense
of individual accomplishments. Readers' responses to the
historical section of that review encouraged me to take an
active interest in the history of chemistry. The concept for
Profiles, Pathways, and Dreams resulted from that interest."
"My goal for Profiles was to document the development of
modern organic chemistry by having individual chemists
discuss their roles in this development. Authors were not
chosen to represent my choice of the world's "best" organic
chemists, as one might choose the "baseball all-star team of
the century". Such an attempt would be foolish: Even the
selection committees for the Nobel prizes do not make their
decisions on such a premise.".
520 8 $a"The selection criteria were numerous. Each
individual had to have made seminal contributions to organic
chemistry over a multidecade career. (The average age of the
authors is over 70!) Profiles would represent scientists
born and professionally productive in different countries.
(Chemistry in 13 countries is detailed.) Taken together,
these individuals were to have conducted research in nearly
all sub-specialties of organic chemistry. Invitations to
contribute were based on solicited advice and on
recommendations of chemists from five continents, including
nearly all of the contributors. The final assemblage was
selected entirely and exclusively by me. Not all who were
invited chose to participate, and not all who should have
been invited could be asked." "A very detailed four-page
document was sent to the contributors, in which they were
informed that the objectives of the series were" "1. to
delineate the overall scientific development of organic
chemistry during the past 30--40 years, a period during
which this field has dramatically changed and matured;" "2.
to describe the development of specific areas of organic
chemistry; to highlight the crucial discoveries and to
examine the impact they have had on the continuing
development in the field;" "3. to focus attention on the
research of some of the seminal contributors to organic
chemistry; to indicate how their research programs
progressed over a 20--40-year period; and" "4. to provide a
documented source for individuals interested in the hows and
whys of the development of modern organic chemistry.".
520 8 $a"One noted scientist explained his refusal to
contribute a volume by saying, in part, that "it is
extraordinarily difficult to write in good taste about
oneself. Only if one can manage a humorous and light touch
does it come off well. Naturally, I would like to place my
work in what I consider its true scientific perspective,
but..."" "Each autobiography reflects the author's science,
his lifestyle, and the style of his research. Naturally, the
volumes are not uniform, although each author attempted to
follow the guidelines. "To write in good taste" was not an
objective of the series. On the contrary, the authors were
specifically requested not to write a review article of
their field, but to detail their own research
accomplishments. To the extent that this instruction was
followed and the result is not "in good taste", then these
are criticisms that I, as editor, must bear, not the
writer." "As in any project, I have a few regrets. It is
truly sad that Egbert Havinga, who wrote this volume, and
David Ginsburg, who translated another, died during the
development of this project. There have been many rewards,
some of which are documented in my personal account of this
project, entitled "Extracting the Essence: Adventures of an
Editor" published in CHEMTECH."--BOOK JACKET.
600 10 $aHavinga, Egbert,$d1909-1988.
650 0 $aChemists$zNetherlands$xBiography.
650 0 $aChemistry, Organic$xHistory$y20th century.
830 0 $aProfiles, pathways, and dreams
