Toolbox Stories

The elucidation of reaction mechanisms is a central topic in organic chemistry that led to many elegant studies emphasizing the interplay of theory and experiment as demonstrated, for example, by the seminal contributions of the Houk group to the understanding of the Diels-Alder and other pericyclic reactions.38 This reaction class is rather typical for the elucidation of reaction mechanisms. On the experimental side, the toolbox of solvent, substituent and isotope effect studies as well as stereochemical probes have been used extensively, while the reactants, products, intermediates and transition structures involved have been calculated at all feasible levels of theory. As a result, these reactions often serve as a success story in physical organic chemistry. 

In some instances there will be an additional talk (designated by the word Alternate ), related to the topic. This additional talk tells a brief story about an employee and is intended to illustrate what can happen if the employee doesn t follow the OSHA regulation. This second t3rpe of toolbox talk will give a real life scenario twist to your training. 

---