WWWTP? MedChemComm Edition

E tu, Pfizer? Sheesh.
Modified from MedChemComm, 2013

Blogosphere buds Chemjobber and Organometallica took turns finding "eccentricities" in a recent MedChemComm cartoon abstract (right). OK, I get it, a hilarious cartoon of the liver as a ravenous monster, chewing up your precious drug leads...

But look closer: What on Earth is up with that structure? As CJ / OM pointed out, we've got chain breaks, Texas carbons, neutral four-coordinate amines, floating atoms, the works!

Now, this review looks to have been scribed by some heavy hitters - two Pfizer PK folks, and two medicinal chemists. Worse still? Both med chemists are from top-flight groups (Nicolaou and Corey), and I've profiled one of 'em over at my place.

So, caveat auctor - If you're listed as part of a multi-author review, always check it over* before someone else submits it! "Only YOU Can Prevent Unwanted Blogosphere Satire."

*And chemists, don't let non-chemists draw molecules for you, especially if they end up in scientific papers!

Friday Fun - WWWTP, Cartoons!

Anyone out there watch Adventure Time? The animated show, currently airing on Cartoon Network, follows the adventures of a boy and his talking dog in the magical Land of Ooo.

(Bear with me, I've only seen this episode)

Source: Cartoon Network

While flipping through the channels, I happened to land on a rather new episode, called "Goliad." It involves one of the main characters - a synthetic biologist? - spawning a giant pink Sphinx from a mixture of DNA, 'chemicals,' chalk dust, and an old tooth. But that's not what caught my eye: check out the prop chalkboards set up in the "lab" - those are resonance structures on there!

(Ironically, though the characters understand electron movement for the carbonate anion, and can apparently clone life forms, the resonance structure for benzene escapes them. But, hey, this adventure occurs in a castle shaped like a wedding cake, so...caveat lector)

Everything's bigger in Texas.

One tiny problem: this chemistry know-how seems to disappear between takes. Here's another clip from the same episode, where the previously-correct carbonate has mysteriously grown another bond.

Most kids watching this will just gloss over it, assuming some mad-scientist gobbledygook. But, those of us in the WWWTP camp just can't help ourselves.

Happy Friday! Go watch some (scientifically accurate) cartoons!

Knights of the Periodic Table

Last night, while reading through the Feb. 6 issue of C&EN, I found myself terribly amused by the inside back cover. The ad, for ACS journal Organometallics (*now under new management!), encouraged readers to check out their 2011 Roundtable. This panel of distinguished chemists met together last year to opine on issues ranging from new research frontiers and publication strategies to the role of basic research in developing new industrial reactions. 

A hand-drawn cartoon, purportedly of chemists in concilium adorns the article. Clearly, the artist intends for this to be modern-day: laptop computers, desk chairs, and a multinational group discuss science with rapt attention.


But the picture I found so funny wasn't this one, but instead the magazine cartoon, which re-imagined the same meeting as if the chemists were members of King Arthur's court. Which got me to thinking - I've dabbled a bit in catalysis and complexes, so who would I want on my round table?

I've taken the liberty of labeling the photo with my potential knights. Readers, with whom would you want to ride into battle discuss organometallic chemistry?