title: Looking for treasure in stereochemistry-land. A path marked by curiosity, obstinacy, and serendipity.
abstract: Over the past 40 years, much of my research has evolved around various topics of conformational analysis and asymmetric synthesis. This Perspective describes some of my salient contributions in eight different areas of organic stereochemistry: (1) conformational analysis of six-membered rings, (2) evaluation of stereoelectronic interactions in (1)J(C-H) one-bond coupling constants in six-membered rings, (3) eclipsed conformation in cis-2-tert-butyl-5-(tert-butylsulfonyl)-1,3-dioxane, (4) determination of enthalpic and entropic contributions to ΔG°(CH(2)Ph) and ΔG°(t-Bu), (5) study of the "attractive gauche effect" in O-C-C-O segments, (6) examination of salt effects on conformational equilibria, (7) asymmetric synthesis of β-amino acids, and (8) asymmetric organocatalysis and "Green" chemistry. It will be appreciated that a basic understanding of the principles of physical organic chemistry has been essential in all projects. Furthermore, curiosity, enthusiasm, obstinacy, and paying attention to unexpected observations will lead to many new (stereo)chemical discoveries.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Apartado Postal 14-740, 07000 México, DF, Mexico. juaristi@relaq.mx
authors.forename: Eusebio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Juaristi