Where is organic chemistry going

Abstract

As I tried to organize my thoughts to fit my title, I realized that I don't know where organic chemistry is going. If I did, I'd be out trying to get there before everyone else does. So I thought about how to predict where it might go. How do you predict where anything is going? If it is nearly at a standstill, it is difficult indeed to predict where it Is going. If it is moving, the safest prediction is that it will keep moving, at least for a while, in the same direction. Many of our chemical pundits seem to be saying, "Organic chemistry isn't moving much these days; it's a staid, old, finished, complete science, and the real action is elsewhere." Well, if this is so, if it is really at a standstill, I will only be able to predict that it will remain at a standstill. But is this true? Is organic chemistry really not moving? Clearly, the best way to decide is to look at some of the things that are happening, to see if there is still a faint pulse of life left. This, then, is what I want to do: examine some of the recent trends and developments, which I have found interesting, indeed, exciting. At the same time, I would like to comment on some general problems.