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Synlett
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1775406
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1775406
letter
Thieme Chemistry Journals Awardees 2024
The Retrosynthesis Mindset: A Problem-Solving Tool
Y.S.L.C. acknowledges the support from the Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (Grant No. XMUMRF/2021-C7/IENG/0036) and Kelip-kelip! Center of Excellence for Light Enabling Technologies. J.L.K. acknowledges the financial support of the Narodowe Centrum Nauki (National Science Centre of Poland, NCN) via Sonata (2017/26/D/NZ1/01234) and Opus (2018/29/B/ST4/01498) grants. He further acknowledges the funding from the Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej (Foundation for Polish Science, FNP) for the Homing grant (POIR.04.04.00-00-441F/17) and the Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego (Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, decision no DIR/WK/2018/06). J.V.M. is grateful for the Swiss National Science Foundation PRIMA (Grant No. 193174) supporting her research activities. She further acknowledges the support of the Adolphe Merkle Foundation and the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-Inspired Materials. F.M.F. is grateful for the support of the Ministry of Education - Singapore GAP project ‘ChemPOV’ (GAP502022-02-04), a decentralised grant for Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 (RIE2025) from the National Research Foundation Singapore to support innovation and enterprise initiatives in the National University of Singapore (NUS), administered by the NUS Technology Transfer and Innovation (NUS TTI).
Dedicated to those shaping our retrosynthesis mindset
Abstract
Retrosynthesis refers to the process of deconstructing a target molecule step by step until simpler and commercially available synthetic precursors are identified to develop a valid synthetic pathway. As a powerful problem-solving tool, it has gradually been expanded to other fields of chemistry. The application of a ‘retrosynthesis mindset’ can be relevant beyond chemistry, such as in education, research management, and science advice. In this Letter, we discuss the concept of the retrosynthesis mindset and its implications within and beyond chemistry in the hope of highlighting a broader potential and encouraging the adoption of such a mindset to enhance problem solving and strategic planning across disciplines.
1 Introduction
2 Retrosynthesis Education
3 Retrosynthesis Within and Beyond the Lab
4 Conclusion
Key words
retrosynthesis mindset - problem-solving tool - retrosynthesis - education - research management - science advicePublication History
Received: 15 June 2024
Accepted: 15 August 2024
Article published online:
01 October 2024
© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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