This book provides state-of-the-art information on how studies in applied theoretical organic chemistry are conducted. It highlights the many approaches and tools available to those interested in using computational chemistry to predict and rationalize structures and reactivity of organic molecules. Chapters not only describe theoretical techniques in detail, but also describe recent applications and offer practical advice. Authored by many of the world leaders in the field of applied theoretical chemistry, this book is perfect for both practitioners of computational chemistry and synthetic and mechanistic organic chemists curious about applying computational techniques to their research. Contents: Modeling Organic Reactions — General Approaches, Caveats, and Concerns (Stephanie R Hare, Brandi M Hudson and Dean J Tantillo)Overview of Computational Methods for Organic Chemists (Edyta M Greer and Kitae Kwon)Brief History of Applied Theoretical Organic Chemistry (Steven M Bachrach)Solvation (Carlos Silva Lopez and Olalla Nieto Faza)Conformational Searching for Complex, Flexible Molecules (Alexander C Brueckner, O Maduka Ogba, Kevin M Snyder, H Camille Richardson and Paul Ha-Yeon Cheong)NMR Prediction (Kelvin E Jackson and Robert S Paton)Energy Decomposition Analysis and Related Methods (Israel Fernández)Systems with Extensive Delocalization (L Zoppi and K K Baldridge)Modern Treatments of Aromaticity (Judy I-Chia Wu)Weak Intermolecular Interactions (Rajat Maji and Steven E Wheeler)Predicting Reaction Pathways from Reactants (Romain Ramozzi, W M C Sameera and Keiji Morokuma)Unusual Potential Energy Surfaces and Nonstatistical Dynamic Effects (Charles Doubleday)The Distortion/Interaction Model for Analysis of Activation Energies of Organic Reactions (K N Houk, Fang Liu, Yun-Fang Yang and Xin Hong)Spreadsheet-Based Computational Predictions of Isotope Effects (O Maduka Ogba, John D Thoburn and Daniel J O'Leary)Stereoelectronic Effects: Analysis by Computational and Theoretical Methods (Gabriel dos Passos Gomes and Igor Alabugin)pKa Prediction (Yijie Niu and Jeehiun K Lee)Issues Particular to Organometallic Reactions (Gang Lu, Huiling Shao, Humair Omer and Peng Liu)Computationally Modeling Nonadiabatic Dynamics and Surface Crossings in Organic Photoreactions (Arthur Winter)Challenges in Predicting Stereoselectivity (Elizabeth H Krenske) Readership: Practitioners of computational chemistry and synthetic and mechanistic organic chemists curious about applying computational techniques to their research. Keywords: Organic Chemistry;Theoretical Chemistry;Stereoselectivity;NMR Prediction;pKa Prediction;Organic PhotoreactionsReview: Key Features: A particular strength is the mix of theoretical background, informative examples and practical advice providedChapters are authored by many of world leaders in the field of applied theoretical chemistry

This volume is devoted to the various aspects of theoretical organic chemistry. In the nineteenth century, organic chemistry was primarily an experimental, empirical science. Throughout the twentieth century, the emphasis has been continually shifting to a more theoretical approach. Today, theoretical organic chemistry is a distinct area of research, with strong links to theoretical physical chemistry, quantum chemistry, computational chemistry, and physical organic chemistry. The objective in this volume has been to provide a cross-section of a number of interesting topics in theoretical organic chemistry, starting with a detailed account of the historical development of this discipline and including topics devoted to quantum chemistry, physical properties of organic compounds, their reactivity, their biological activity, and their excited-state properties.

"Introduction to Theoretical Organic Chemistry" provides an introduction for chemists with a limited mathematical background, yet need a working understanding of quantum chemistry as applied to problems in organic chemistry. This book is unique in that it is written at the level of the advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate student in organic chemistry, whose exposure to theoretical chemistry is relatively recent. It fills a niche in that most books on theoretical organic chemistry are written by theoretical or computational chemists, whereas this book is written by an organic chemist. The book covers molecular modeling computer software, and offers a useful guide to the scope and limitations of each program, along with specific examples of input and output for several of the most popular software. Numerous examples and exercises are provided.

This approach to the general problem of organic reactivity combines classical organic chemistry with new theoretical ideas developed by the author. The text contains a non-mathematical description of the curve crossing model, expressed in the language of qualitative valence bond theory.