Physical Organic Chemistry by Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet

Abstract

AbstractThe techniques and thought processes of the field of physical organic chemistry, focused on small organic molecule structure and reactivity, have been taken up by numerous other fields, including, but not limited to, sensor design, organometallics, organic materials, organocatalysis, and supramolecular chemistry. The unifying principles of each field stem from physical organic chemistry pursuits. The insights, terminology, and lessons, as well as the experimental and computational techniques of physical organic chemistry currently permeate nearly all fields of organic chemistry. Thus, although the number of individuals that call themselves physical organic chemists is dwindling, we should recognize this as the inevitable outcome, revealing the strength of the discipline—it is so powerful that all areas of organic chemistry have adopted it, and therefore, we are all physical organic chemists at heart. This manuscript sets forth to highlight this conclusion by showing how several recent studies in fields not historically recognized as physical organic can be described as being so. The message is upbeat; organic chemists have a common background and language that emanates from physical organic chemistry, irrespective of the titles we each associate ourselves with.