Organometallics 2010, 29, 2385–2385 DOI: 10.1021/om100455f
2385
Organometallics;Quo Vadis? Some 28 years ago, Professor Dietmar Seyferth and the American Chemical Society founded Organometallics, a new journal that was enthusiastically welcomed by the scientific community. This was the first peer-reviewed forum for organometallic chemistry from a noncommercial publisher, and it rapidly became the flagship journal of the discipline. Under the guidance of Professor Seyferth, his Associate Editors, and the Advisory Board, Organometallics has grown and prospered. Last year, Professor Seyferth decided it was time to pass the torch, and since January he has been “Editor Emeritus”. I hope that readers attending the upcoming Boston ACS meeting will join me in recognizing his years of service by participating in a symposium in his honor (Sunday 21 August through Tuesday 23 August). For readers unable to join us in Boston, some of the spirit of the festivities will be manifested in a commemorative issue of Organometallics appearing later this year. Both the symposium and special issue will also celebrate Professor Seyferth’s many scientific contributions to transition-metal and maingroup-element organometallic chemistry. The diversity of the participants reflects his appreciation of the international and cross-generational nature of this field, and their collective breadth underscores the inclusive, “big tent” spirit that he sought to foster. With this issue, my name debuts on the masthead as Editor in Chief. I would like to thank all of those who have entrusted this position to me, and express the hope that I can fulfill the diverse expectations of the numerous stakeholders, ranging from readers through laboratory-based coauthors, corresponding authors, reviewers, the Advisory Board, and Associate Editors. It is a time for dialogue between all parties, the result of which will be a fresh “marketplace of ideas” that can shape future directions for the journal. I welcome direct input from everyone. With regard to the challenges ahead, I bring an open mind, an interest in communicating, an attention to detail, and a fair dose of personality that will undoubtedly be manifested to some degree in the journal. This will not be your tradition-bound scientific publication from the middle of the previous century but a go-to source for cutting edge developments. Stay tuned for new features that will be rolled out over the coming year. Let us close by turning inward to our discipline. Despite funding trends that have forced many branches of chemistry in increasingly applied directions, there can be no doubt that organometallic chemistry is as fundamental, central, and vital as ever. And of course, organometallic compounds play key roles in many applied research areas. This includes not only catalysis, a multidisciplinary field where organometallic chemistry has always been well represented, but also materials science and nanochemistry. The interface with organic synthesis continues to attract new researchers to the field, and bioorganometallic chemistry is now a well established subdiscipline. We can be collectively proud of this ongoing progress and evolution. My goal is that Organometallics will not merely be a repository of first-class scientific work, but also a force that can nurture the field in its entire breadth, including value-added offerings that can aid newly minted graduate students, younger investigators, industrial practitioners, and established academic scientists alike. I sincerely appreciate any and all help in the pursuit of this vision, and thank all parties in advance for their engagement and assistance.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Tegen
Left to right: Organometallics Editor Emeritus Dietmar Seyferth and current Editor in Chief John A. Gladysz.
John A. Gladysz Editor in Chief r 2010 American Chemical Society
Published on Web 06/07/2010
pubs.acs.org/Organometallics
