Division of Organic Chemistry

    The development of new theories, new methods and new reactions in or
ganic chemistry has promoted its intercrossing with life science, materials,
science and environmental science in a greater extent, which has further
pushed forward the progress of organic chemistry. Its characteristics are as
follows.
1 ) The concept on molecular recognition, molecular design and self assembly is penetrating into all fields of organic chemistry.
2 ) Thanks to the discovery, manufacture and utilization of new functional organic matters (such as new materials, medicines, pesticides and so on), organic chemistry has been making significant contributions to human for meeting its needs.
3 ) Selective reaction, asymmetric synthesis in particular, has become the hot issues and cutting edge in the research on organic synthesis.
4 ) Green organic synthesis chemistry and the study of atomic economic reactions are turning into a major field of chemical study in the future, which will make a distinctive contribution to the happiness of mankind in the 21^st century.
5 ) The development and popularization of time-resolving technology will deepen our understanding on the mechanism of organic reactions.
    Among the proposals funded by the Division in the past five years, those for organic synthesis chemistry account for 35 % , metal and element organic chemistry for 17% , natural organic chemistry for 17% , physical organic chemistry for 14% , pharmaceutical chemistry for 1. 8% , bio?organic chemistry for 8. 4% , organic analytical chemistry for 0. 6% , and applied organic chemistry for 4. 8% . Proposals for research on green chemistry in organic chemistry and the organic synthesis with atomic economy are still quite few, which should be valued and encouraged. In the research on organic synthesis chemistry, studies dealing with complex organic molecules of moderate difficulty or above are insufficient. In natural organic chemistry, research on new compounds with important physiological functions should be enhanced. In general, the theoretical study of organic chemistry is not deepened yet, research on new reactions, agents and methods is inadequate, and the research and development of new functional matters are also inadequate. All these weak points need to be improved.
    To simplify the procedures for the appraisal of research proposals for new medicines, NSFC has decided to sub?allot to the Division part of the Special Fund for New Medicines and incorporate it into the fund for the projects of Free Application under the Division. The requirements for the proposals of new medicine remain as follows:
1 ) Applicant has acquired the target compounds or effective components which are of new structures or new pharmacological activities as well as the certificate of newness retrieval or patent application certificate issued by authoritative institutions.
2 ) Applicant has obtained definite research results in an vivo and in vitro pharmacodynamics of the said compounds.
3 ) The acute toxicity (LD50) test data of the said compounds should be noted in the application form.

Please mark the words "new medicine" on the upper left corner of the cover page of the form.

Research areas encouraged:

o Study on new reactions, reagents, techniques and methods of organic synthesis ( particularly the reactions of organic synthesis with high selectivity and high efficiency, and green chemistry);
o Basic research on the synthesis and application of new organic functional substances;
o Synthesis of natural organic compounds with physiological activity and relatively new fashioned complex structures and bionic synthesis;
o Studies of fundamental issues in chemical biology, especially mutual recognition and interaction between bio macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids and polysaccharides) and molecules, and organic synthesis and biological transformation catalyzed by enzyme and mimetic enzyme;
o Research on basic theoretical issues in the cross linking of organic chemistry with related disciplines, and
o Areas related to the scientific and technical issues in the Olympic Games.