Essentials of Pharmaceutical Chemistry is an introduction to pharmaceutical chemistry for undergraduate pharmacy, chemistry and medicinal chemistry students. It covers all of the core material necessary to provide an understanding of the basic chemistry of drug molecules. Now a core text on many university courses, the book contains numerous worked examples and problems.

The 4th edition includes new chapters on Chromatographic Methods of Analysis, and Medicinal Chemistry - The Science of Drug Design.

Read an interview with author Donald Cairns talking about his interest in the chemistry of drugs and poisons, the new edition of his book, and his desert island essentials.