Synthesizing Our Future

Chemistry has a central role in science,and synthesis plays an essential role in chemistry. Synthetic substances and materials have demonstrated a significant impact in determining the quality of our life in the last century. Although chemical synthesis has now reached an extraordinary level of sophistication,there is still vast room for improvement. In this century,to be more tightly merged with other fields such as material and life sciences,to generate more interdisciplinary areas,is an inevitable trend in synthetic chemistry. Nowadays,synthetic chemistry should pursue ＂GREEN＂ process. In this context,the atom economy,the E-factor and 3Rs （reduction,recycling and reuse） of resources must be taken into account in synthetic industry. The greatest challenge of synthetic chemistry,not only,will be immense responsibility to tackle a range of existing or predicted social and global issues associated with resources,energy,materials,the environment,food and health,but also the redeeming the negative impression of synthetic chemistry in public.