Organic pioneer
Christopher Ingold's insights into mechanism and reactivity established many of the principles of organic chemistry. John Ridd reveals more about his life and work
Sir Christopher Ingold fundamentally changed the approach of chemists to organic chemistry. Many have forgotten what a strange and mysterious subject organic chemistry appeared to be in the days before reaction mechanisms were revealed. Organic chemistry is now viewed in a very different way - based on firmly established mechanistic principles - and, although many people have contributed to that change, almost all chemists would now accept that Ingold was the predominant figure. Although this account focuses on his work in organic chemistry, Ingold also made important contributions to spectroscopy and inorganic chemistry.