Explore the world of catalytic organic synthesis in this inaugural Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson Annual Lecture delivered by Professor John Hartwig, Henry Rapoport Chair in Organic Chemistry at the University of California Berkeley. Discover how catalysis enables modern living standards and sustainable progress, from pharmaceuticals and perfumes to eco-friendly plastics and solar energy. Delve into the research focused on designing catalysts that introduce and manipulate functional groups in organic molecules, both small and large. Learn about novel coupling processes for synthesizing medicinally important molecules, methods for introducing fluorine and fluoroalkyl substituents, and techniques for functionalizing previously inaccessible molecular positions. Gain insights into the Wilkinson Lectureship, synthetic chemistry fundamentals, the origins of complex molecules like Vancomycin, cross-coupling reactions, mechanistic strategies, regioselectivity challenges, and the intersection of biosynthesis and C-H activation in this comprehensive 1-hour and 10-minute talk. Read more