David E. Lewis - Böcker

The Wolff-Kishner Reduction and Related Reactions: Discovery and Development offers a detailed discussion of this reaction, its discoverers, and its development since its discovery. Derivative name reactions-including the Wharton and Shapiro reactions-are also discussed. The book is illustrated with examples from literature and corresponding references to the primary literature to aid further reading. It provides a comprehensive review of the century of chemistry that allows the reader to follow the development of this important synthetic reaction. In addition, it provides biographical details on the chemists who discovered and developed the reaction, thus adding a human dimension to the discussion.

Introduces Wolff and Kishner, the discoverers of the reaction, along with Huang Ming-Long, the developer of an important modification of the reaction Discusses the discovery of the reaction and the way that priority for the discovery was settled between Wolff and Kishner Discusses, in depth, the development and usage of the reaction over the century, from its discovery, to its most recent applications and modifications in synthesis Includes biographical materials on the chemists responsible for major derivative name reactions based on the Wolff-Kishner reduction

Addition, Elimination and Substitution: Markovnikov, Hofmann, Zaitsev and Walden: Discovery and Development discusses foundational reactions in organic chemistry and their major protagonists, contributions to synthesis, and history. Hofmann, Zaitsev, and Markovnikov are introduced, along with their major discoveries and contributions to organic chemistry. The history of controversies around Markovnikov's Rule are addressed. The book introduces Walden's original demonstration of configuration inversion, then discusses bimolecular elimination reactions, regioselective addition reactions, regiospecific alkene synthesis, and the development of modern reactions with configuration inversion. With its unique perspective, focus, and comprehensive coverage, this book belongs on the shelf of every organic chemist. Introduces Markovnikov, Zaitsev, Hofmann, and Walden as actual persons, rather than just an abstract term used as a form of short-hand to describe the rules Discusses, in depth, the discovery and usage of these reactions and rules, from their discovery to their most recent applications Includes biographical materials about chemists responsible for major changes in application of the rules Traces the history of the applications of these reactions, e.g., anti-Markovnikov additions in catalytic organic synthesis, and reactions such as the Mitsunobu reaction improving the original SN2 displacement

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many questioned whether the large number of political appointees in the Federal Emergency Management Agency contributed to the agency's poor handling of the catastrophe, ultimately costing hundreds of lives and causing immeasurable pain and suffering. The Politics of Presidential Appointments examines in depth how and why presidents use political appointees and how their choices impact government performance--for better or worse. One way presidents can influence the permanent bureaucracy is by filling key posts with people who are sympathetic to their policy goals. But if the president's appointees lack competence and an agency fails in its mission--as with Katrina--the president is accused of employing his friends and allies to the detriment of the public. Through case studies and cutting-edge analysis, David Lewis takes a fascinating look at presidential appointments dating back to the 1960s to learn which jobs went to appointees, which agencies were more likely to have appointees, how the use of appointees varied by administration, and how it affected agency performance.He argues that presidents politicize even when it hurts performance--and often with support from Congress--because they need agencies to be responsive to presidential direction. He shows how agency missions and personnel--and whether they line up with the president's vision--determine which agencies presidents target with appointees, and he sheds new light on the important role patronage plays in appointment decisions.

The administrative state is the nexus of American policy making in the postwar period. The vague and sometimes conflicting policy mandates of Congress, the president, and courts are translated into real public policy in the bureaucracy. As the role of the national government has expanded, the national legislature and executive have increasingly delegated authority to administrative agencies to make fundamental policy decisions. How this administrative state is designed, its coherence, its responsiveness, and its efficacy determine, in Robert Dahl's phrase, "who gets what, when, and how." This study of agency design, thus, has implications for the study of politics in many areas. The structure of bureaucracies can determine the degree to which political actors can change the direction of agency policy. Politicians frequently attempt to lock their policy preferences into place through insulating structures that are mandated by statute or executive decree. This insulation of public bureaucracies such as the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Election Commission, and the National Nuclear Security Administration, is essential to understanding both administrative policy outputs and executive-legislative politics in the United States. This book explains why, when, and how political actors create administrative agencies in such a way as to insulate them from political control, particularly presidential control.

The administrative state is the nexus of American policy making in the postwar period. The vague and sometimes conflicting policy mandates of Congress, the president, and courts are translated into real public policy in the bureaucracy. As the role of the national government has expanded, the national legislature and executive have increasingly delegated authority to administrative agencies to make fundamental policy decisions. How this administrative state is designed, its coherence, its responsiveness, and its efficacy determine, in Robert Dahl's phrase, "who gets what, when, and how." This study of agency design, thus, has implications for the study of politics in many areas. The structure of bureaucracies can determine the degree to which political actors can change the direction of agency policy. Politicians frequently attempt to lock their policy preferences into place through insulating structures that are mandated by statute or executive decree. This insulation of public bureaucracies such as the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Election Commission, and the National Nuclear Security Administration, is essential to understanding both administrative policy outputs and executive-legislative politics in the United States. This book explains why, when, and how political actors create administrative agencies in such a way as to insulate them from political control, particularly presidential control.

This contributed volume is based on presentations made at the 2024 Symposium on the sesquicentennial of the independent proposals of the tetrahedral carbon by van 't Hoff and Le Bel (1874), presented to the Division of the History of Chemistry of the American Chemical Society in March 2024. In 1874, the Dutch chemist, Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff (1852-1911), and the French chemist, Joseph-Achille Le Bel (1847-1930), independently proposed that the phenomenon of optical activity could be rationalized on the basis of non-superimposable mirror image molecules—in particular, the tetrahedral carbon atom. The book features chapters dedicated to the life and work of Le Bel and the history of stereochemistry. The expansion of the van 't Hoff-Le Bel theory to elements beyond carbon, such as metals and chiral centers based on sulfur and selenium, is also explored. Additionally, the book discusses the visualization of organic molecules in three dimensions through molecular models, the limits of bonding and stereochemistry in organic molecules, and the role of crystallography in stereochemistry development. Specific topics include hydrocarbons with severely distorted geometry, the quantum chemical revolution, the effects of substituents on tetrahedral carbons, the Walden inversion, and the Fischer elucidation of monosaccharide configurations. A chapter by Kahr and Rossi includes the only English translation of the undergraduate thesis of the world-renowned author Primo Levi, a Jewish, Italian-born chemist and Holocaust survivor, and provides historical and scientific context. The book also examines the public celebration of stereochemistry through postage stamps. This title offers a comprehensive overview of the evolution and significance of stereochemistry in both chemistry and scientific thought, serving as a valuable resource for students and researchers interested in history of chemistry topics.