Andrew Hesterhagen

Organic chemistry graduate student in the Pierce lab (@piercelab). Butler University alum (@BU_chemistry)

[Dirk H. Trauner @DirkTrauner]

I have a lot to say about the hype currently surrounding AI in total synthesis, but I will limit myself to this:

I dare those who promote AI-driven total synthesis in industry and to funding agencies to bet their savings on the success of the synthetic routes proposed by AI.

In my thirty years as a practicing synthetic chemist, having published more than 125 total syntheses as a PI, I have encountered only one case in which each step worked as planned. Everything can look good on paper (Papier ist geduldig). But, as Mike Tyson famously put it, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

How you respond to the inevitable setbacks, surprises, and insults that chemistry throws at you is precisely what makes total synthesis such a challenging and rewarding endeavor. And it is the reason why total synthesis is such a good training ground for problem solvers in academia and industry.

I do wonder, however, what all this means for writing proposals on total synthesis, which seem to be increasingly reviewed by colleagues who have little understanding of what total synthesis actually entails. Writing such proposals has always been a somewhat silly exercise, for the reasons outlined above. Evaluating them will become even more challenging in the age of Claude, when anyone can generate a seemingly convincing synthetic route on paper. The real question, of course, is what happens when that route encounters reality.

[Apple TV @AppleTV]

Congratulations to the entire Severance team on their 27 Emmy Nominations.

Drama Series

Lead Actor: Adam Scott

Lead Actress: Britt Lower

Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette

Supporting Actor: John Turturro

Supporting Actor: Tramell Tillman

Supporting Actor: Zach Cherry

Guest Actress: Jane Alexander

Guest Actress: Gwendoline Christie

Guest Actress: Merritt Wever

Directing: Ben Stiller – Cold Harbor

Directing: Jessica Lee Gagné – Chikhai Bardo

Writing: Dan Erickson – Cold Harbor

Cinematography: Jessica Lee Gagné – Hello, Ms. Cobel

Picture Editing: Joseph Landauer – Attila

Picture Editing: Geoffrey Richman – Cold Harbor

Picture Editing: Keith Fraase – Chikhai Bardo

Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode: Eric Leven, Sean Findley, Shawn Hillier, Radost Ridlen, Martin Kolejak, Brian Holligan, Alex Lemke, Michael Huber & Djuna Wahlrab – Hello, Ms. Cobel

Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More): Jeremy Hindle, Chris Shriver, Ann Bartek & David Schlesinger – Chikhai Bardo

Title Design: Oliver Latta & Teddy Blanks

Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score): Theodore Shapiro – Cold Harbor

Music Supervision: George Drakoulias – Cold Harbor

Sound Editing (One Hour): Jacob Ribicoff, Gregg Swiatlowski, Eric Strausser, Sam Zeines, Felipe Pacheco, Marko Costanzo, & Alex Wang – Chikhai Bardo

Sound Mixing (One Hour): Bob Chefalas, Jacob Ribicoff, David Schwartz & George Lara – Cold Harbor

Choreography: Andrew Turteltaub – Choreography & Merriment / The Ballad Of Ambrose And Gunnel

Stunt Performer: Justice Hedenberg, Katie Rowe & Erik Martin

Casting: Rachel Tenner & Bess Fifer

[Dr. Ortiz, Process Chemistry-er @KCGOrtiz]

Hey @AmerChemSociety ya wanna not be cowards?

[Allie Guerra @Allie_MckenzieW]

Showing our "wolfies" for #GivingPack @NCState to support @NCStateChem

[Andrew Hesterhagen @andyhesterhagen]

@Allie_MckenzieW Dear theodosia is a lacrimator fr

[Governor Josh Stein @NC_Governor]

Western North Carolina is open for business, and innovative companies will continue to invest in our state thanks to our highly skilled workforce.

[Bilge Ebiri @BilgeEbiri]

Helpful tip: One thing you might want to do before Jan. 20th is update all your vaccinations.

[Tim Walz @Tim_Walz]

Yesterday’s Wordle in 2.

That’s gotta be a sign, people.

[Jason Selvig @jasonselvig]

Asking North Carolina Superintendent candidate Michele Morrow to autograph her tweets calling for Obama to be killed.

[Governor Josh Stein @NC_Governor]

As we continue our unprecedented response to Hurricane Helene, the nation is beginning to understand that impacted areas have been the target of a relentless vortex of disinformation, dialed up by bad actors and platforms like X. 🧵

[Señorita Awesome @boygrrI]

my apologies indiana i wasnt aware of your game

[Josh Stein @JoshStein_]

Just left a briefing with President Biden and Governor Cooper. Here’s the latest on Hurricane Helene recovery:

[Governor Josh Stein @NC_Governor]

Tim, Chloe and Jaden are doing heroic work feeding the town of Black Mountain. The people of western NC are inspiring in the toughest of times and we’re going to have their back.

[Josh Stein @JoshStein_]

I’ve been in touch with local leaders in western NC. The devastation is enormous. They are desperate to get cell service back up and running, and folks will soon need essentials like water. Keep the people of western NC and our neighboring states in your prayers.

[Roy Cooper @RoyCooperNC]

Donald Trump and NC GOP leaders embraced Mark Robinson for years knowing who he was and what he stood for including disrespect for women and inciting violence. They reap what they sow.

[Roy Cooper @RoyCooperNC]

A New Way Forward! Let’s go @KamalaHarris

[Sanjay Kalliat @srkda]

All I ask is to be present for a prelim or defense where the presenter says "I have concepts of a plan" for future directions.

[60% Water By Mass @MoleculesGoHard]

It's to open these stupid things when you inevitably clog it.
Never had that problem running manual columns. When those clogged I had a long spatula to poke at the silica

[Joshua Pierce @piercelab]

My group filled my office with personalized balloons to celebrate my birthday (tomorrow)… they also plan to use the extras to run reactions, which will only be a little bit creepy! 🧐😂

So thankful for a great team of colleagues!