More than Forty Years of Organosulfur Chemistry and Many Other Studies

Abstract

Sulfur Reports proudly presents the latest addition to its Grand Old Men of Sulfur Chemistry hall of fame, the chemical autobiography of our distinguished editorial board member Michael P. Cava. Professor Cava's most significant and impressive achievements in organic sulfur chemistry and organic chemistry at large, starting with the legendary total synthesis of strychnine and culminating with a wealth of highly topical organic metals work, are documented in a complete bibliography with 410 research papers. This high priest of chalcogenology's lasting contributions include major landwinnings in the areas of nonclassical thiophenes and a plethora of other sulfur heterocycles, exotic thiocarbonyl compounds such as thioquinones, and, for good measure, novel selenium and tellurium compounds. The autobiography proper is lucid, concise, and contagious with its pervasive love of adventure and joy of organic synthesis. While the author's contemporaries will enjoy to relive some of the great moments of the amazing development of our craft the young generation will be impressed and inspired by the rich awards a curious and independent mind can reap, both in terms of scientific achievements and as a mentor and teacher of junior scientists and collaborators.

Key Words:

• Benzocyclobutenes
• organotellurium reagents
• tetrathia- and selenafulvalenes
• thia- and selenafulvenes
• thieno[3,4-c]thiophenes
• thiones