A Holistic Approach to Organic Synthesis - Paperbackby Philip Garner (Author) Synthesis is one of the distinguishing features of chemistry as a science. It is the synthetic chemist who uses their intimate understanding of molecular structure and properties to produce materials of great value to society. Author Biography Philip Garner received his Ph. D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh under the guidance of (the late) Paul Dowd. This was followed by postdoctoral training in Paul Grieco's