R. B. Woodward, a great physical organic chemist

Abstract

Robert Burns Woodward is considered one of the greatest synthetic organic chemists of our time, if not the greatest. This article presents evidence that Woodward was also one of the greatest physical organic chemists as well. Among Woodward and his collaborators' most important accomplishments in the field of physical organic chemistry are: the Woodward-Hoffmann rules; the derivation and use of structure-mechanism-reactivity relationships in his multifold structure determinations and total syntheses; the Woodward ultraviolet rules and the Octant Rule; and his early demonstration that synthetic organic chemistry can contribute to the synthesis of potential superconductors and thus, to material science. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. While Robert Burns Woodward is considered one of the greatest synthetic organic chemists of the 20th century, if not greatest, this article presents evidence that Woodward was also one of the greatest physical organic chemists as well. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.