Synthetic pathways and processes in green chemistry . Introductory overview *

1207 *Pure Appl. Chem. Vol. 72, No. 7, 2000. A special topic issue on green chemistry. This introductory overview is an outcome of activity by the Working Party on Synthetic Pathways and Processes in Green Chemistry of the IUPAC Commission on Physical Organic Chemistry; Membership: Pietro Tundo (Chairman), Paul Anastas, Masakazu Anpo (Osaka Prefecture University, Japan), David StC. Black (Chairman, IUPAC Subcommittee on Organic Synthesis), Joseph Breen, Terrence Collins, Werner Klein (President, IUPAC Chemistry and the Environment Division; IUCT, Germany), Guy Martens (IUPAC Committee on Chemistry and Industry; Solvay, s.a. Belgium), Sofia Memoli (Secretary), Junshi Miyamoto (Past President, IUPAC Chemistry and the Environment Division), Tomasz Modro (University of Pretoria, South Africa), Martyn Poliakoff, and N. William Tumas. Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected] To whose memory this paper is dedicated. Joe Breen was a leading pioneer of green chemistry. Following his retirement from EPA, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, where he worked on asbestos, dioxins, and pollution prevention, Joe became Executive Director of the Green Chemistry Institute, a not-for-profit organization promoting environmentally benign syntheses and processing. His premature death on 19 July 1999 created a void in the Working Party team, but encouraged all of us to continue our mission, having in mind his passion for this work and his exquisite friendship. Synthetic pathways and processes in green chemistry. Introductory overview*