Synthesis
DOI: 10.1055/a-2616-1181
short review

An Accidental Synthetic Chemist

David Collum
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
› Author Affiliations

Supported by: National Science Foundation
Supported by: National Institutes of Health GM131713
We thank the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (most recently GM131713) for support.


Preview

Abstract

A journey is described that began as a genetics major, passed through a brief period as a formal synthetic organic chemist, and proceeded through a decades-long quest to be a physical organic–organometallic chemist. Although a preponderance of our program has emphasized elucidating fundamental principles of how aggregation and solvation influence reactivity, this review focuses on the results that have implications in organic synthesis.

  1. Introduction

  2. The Early Years

  3. Lithium Amides and N-Lithiated Species

  4. Sodium Amides

  5. Potassium Hexamethyldisilazide and Related Potassium Alkyl(trimethylsilyl) Amides

  6. Carbanions

  7. Enolates

  8. Conclusions



Publication History

Received: 28 February 2025

Accepted after revision: 26 March 2025

Article published online:
25 July 2025

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