From Chemical Philosophy to Theoretical Chemistry


Book Description

How did chemistry and physics acquire their separate identities, and are they on their way to losing them again? Mary Jo Nye has written a graceful account of the historical demarcation of chemistry from physics and subsequent reconvergences of the two, from Lavoisier and Dalton in the late eighteenth century to Robinson, Ingold, and Pauling in the mid-twentieth century. Using the notion of a disciplinary "identity" analogous to ethnic or national identity, Nye develops a theory of the nature of disciplinary structure and change. She discusses the distinctive character of chemical language and theories and the role of national styles and traditions in building a scientific discipline. Anyone interested in the history of scientific thought will enjoy pondering with her the question of whether chemists of the mid-twentieth century suspected chemical explanation had been reduced to physical laws, just as Newtonian mechanical philosophers had envisioned in the eighteenth century.




Reactions and Reagents


Book Description




Erich Hückel (1896-1980)


Book Description

This comprehensive account of Huckel’s career examines his scientific work and his key role in the emergence of quantum chemistry as an independent discipline. It also covers his clash with Linus Pauling over the properties of the benzene molecule.




Organic Reactions, Volume 98


Book Description

The 98th volume in this series for organic chemists in academia and industry presents critical discussions of widely used organic reactions or particular phases of a reaction. The material is treated from a preparative viewpoint, with emphasis on limitations, interfering influences, effects of structure and the selection of experimental techniques. The work includes tables that contain all possible examples of the reaction under consideration. Detailed procedures illustrate the significant modifications of each method.




Advanced Organic Chemistry


Book Description

The two-part, fifth edition of Advanced Organic Chemistry has been substantially revised and reorganized for greater clarity. The material has been updated to reflect advances in the field since the previous edition, especially in computational chemistry. Part A covers fundamental structural topics and basic mechanistic types. It can stand-alone; together, with Part B: Reaction and Synthesis, the two volumes provide a comprehensive foundation for the study in organic chemistry. Companion websites provide digital models for study of structure, reaction and selectivity for students and exercise solutions for instructors.




Reactivity and Mechanism in Organic Chemistry


Book Description

Completely revised and updated, this 2nd Edition of Reactivity and Mechanism in Organic Chemistry is an ideal introduction to the quantitative description of organic reactivity for students in undergraduate and masters chemistry programmes. The book proceeds logically from qualitative molecular orbital theory as a tool for the description of bonding phenomena to combining this with thermochemical data to rationalise concepts such as molecular strain and hyperconjugation. Next, transition state theory, for examining organic reactivity phenomena, is introduced and its relation to energy surfaces and simple rate equations is discussed. On this basis more specific reactivity concepts commonly used in organic chemistry are explored such as the Bell–Evans–Polanyi principle, Marcus theory, HSAB principle, Hammett correlations, the Mayr–Patz equation, and FMO theory. How these reactivity models are applied is demonstrated for pericyclic reactions and selected rearrangement reactions involving transient intermediates such as radicals, diradicals, or carbocations, and for reactions involving classical electrophile/nucleophile combinations.




The Principles of Heterocyclic Chemistry


Book Description

The Principles of Heterocyclic Chemistry presents a unified account of fundamental heterocyclic chemistry with the emphasis placed on the correlations between the methods of preparation and the properties of the various ring systems. This book opens with an introductory chapter that discussesfundamental concepts of the electronic theory of organic chemistry and the relationship of heterocyclic and carbocyclic aromatic compounds. This is followed by separate chapters on the chemistry of the six-membered ring compounds containing one or more heteroatoms, five-membered ring compounds, three- and four-membered rings, and the physical properties of representative heterocyclic compounds. Each chapter begins with introductory section that surveys the various ring types, gives the systems of nomenclature and numbering, and mentions a few important natural and synthetic compounds. Syntheses starting from aliphatic and carbocyclic compounds are then given. The preparation of one heterocyclic compound from another is considered as a reaction of the starting material. The reactions of aromatic and non-aromatic compounds are discussed separately. This book contains the essential heterocyclic chemistry required by an Undergraduate or Graduate student for his course-work, and it is hoped that it will be found stimulating by many a more senior teacher and researcher.




Theory of Organic Reactions


Book Description




Michael Polanyi and His Generation


Book Description

Describes Michael Polanyi's role in the way the philosophy of science was seen as a social enterprise, not relying entirely on empiricism and reason alone.