About the Author:
William H. Brown is emeritus professor of chemistry at Beloit College, where he was twice named Teacher of the Year. His teaching responsibilities include organic chemistry, advanced organic chemistry, and, more recently, special topics in pharmacology and drug synthesis. He received his Ph.D. from Columbia University under the direction of Gilbert Stork and did postdoctoral work at California Institute of Technology and the University of Arizona.
Brent L. Iverson received his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology. He is a University Distinguished Teaching Professor and the Dean of the School of Undergraduate Studies at University of Texas at Austin, as well as a respected researcher. His research spans the interface of organic chemistry and molecular biology. His group has developed several patented technologies, including an FDA-approved treatment for late-stage anthrax.
Eric Anslyn received his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology and is the Norman Hackerman Professor of Chemistry and a University Distinguished Teaching Professor at The University of Texas at Austin. Anslyn's research focuses on the physicals and bioorganic chemistry of synthetic and natural receptors and catalysts.
Christopher S. Foote was a professor of chemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles. His scholarly credits included Sloan Fellow; Guggenheim Fellow; ACS Baekland Award; ACS Cope Scholar; Southern California Section ACS Tolman Medal; President, American Society for Photobiology; and Senior Editor, Accounts of Chemical Research.
Review:
"I find that the BFIA text is very sound pedagogically. Essential concepts are carefully and intuitively explained. Take, for example, the essential survival skill of using curved arrow notation and applying this to the understanding or reaction mechanisms. The authors break this skill down into its simplest components and build from there. This starts with the definition of an electron source and an electron sink. From these definitions, students readily grasp the physical driving force behind the flow of electrons in organic reactions in addition to mastering the use of curved arrow notation. The "how to" sections provide an abundance of detail and effectively break traditionally challenging concepts into logical, readily digested portions. Finally, the sections entitled "Chemical Connections" provide very relevant, up-to-date tie-ins of the subject material to matters of chemical, biological and pharmacological interest."
"I find the problem set at the end of each chapter superb. I believe this is a culmination of hard work over the years by the authors in this area. His treatment of resonance is quite good but the Organometallics covered in Chapter 24 is also second to none! These are the strongest features of the book."
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