Physical Organic Chemistry Group

The Physical Organic Chemistry Group is for those chemists interested and active in physical organic chemistry. We define this as the study of mechanism, reactivity, structure and binding in organic systems, especially leading to the quantitative, molecular level understanding of their properties. 

Examples of areas where this approach has been and is still productively applied include areas such as organic reactivity, conformational analysis and establishing mechanistic pathways, all essential to enhancing the deeper understanding of organic chemistry.

However, modern physical organic chemistry also encompasses a wider range of contexts (such as biology and materials) than ever before, and interactions which extend beyond reaction pathways (such as complexation and QSAR). For example, some current topics where the approaches of physical organic chemistry are being fruitfully applied include: supramolecular interactions, aggregation and reactivity; computation of transition states and mechanisms; molecular recognition, reactions and catalysis in biology; materials where molecular structure controls function; structure activity correlations; mechanisms in synthesis and catalysis; and interactions and reactivity in organised assemblies and interfaces.

These shall no doubt continue to expand, and we aim to be a forum for those physical organic chemists who are applying their expertise to both traditional and new problems, and to those chemists across these diverse areas who identify a physical organic component in their approach to their sphere of research.

2010 Josef Loschmidt Award

The RSC Physical Organic Chemistry Group committee would like to announce that the 2010 Josef Loschmidt Award will be presented to Dr Ian Watt for his rigorous experimental studies of mechanism and reactivity in carbocation, carbanion, and acyl transfer systems, and especially for his recent measurements of hydrogen isotope effects relating to enzyme catalyzed reactions.