The book provides a brief history of AI as a branch of computer science. It also gives an overview of the basic methods employed for searching the solution space (thoroughly exemplified by chemical problems), together with a profound and expert discussion on many questions that may be raised by modern chemists wishing to apply computer-assisted methods in their own research. Moreover, it includes a survey of the most important literature references, covering all essential research in automated interpretation of molecular spectra to elucidate a structure and in syntheses design. A glossary of basic terms from computer technology for chemists is appended.

This book is intended to make the emerging field of artificial intelligence understandable and accessible for chemists, who are not trained in computer methods for solving chemical problems. The author discusses step-by-step basic algorithms for structure elucidation and many aspects of the automated design of organic syntheses in order to integrate this fascinating technology into current chemical knowledge.