Organic Reactions: Enduring classic

HIST 17

Scott E. Denmark, denmark@scs.uiuc.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 245 Roger Adams Laboratory Box 18-5, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
Organic Reactions, the second brainchild of Roger Adams, was originally formulated in 1939 and the first of now 67 volumes (containing a record 12 chapters) appeared in 1942. The aim of Organic Reactions has been to assist organic chemists by providing "critical discussions of the more important (synthetic) reactions". Organic Reactions is unique in the chemical literature in the way it presents an authoritative analysis of the topic reaction accompanied by comprehensive tables that organize all published examples of the reaction being reviewed. This combination of critical discussion and thorough coverage is responsible for the leading position this series occupies for scientists interested in the reactions of organic chemistry. It is a remarkable testimony to the dedicated efforts of its authors, editors and editorial assistants that Organic Reactions has lasted for 65 years on the basis of almost entirely voluntary service.