新分子化合物的合成将化学与其他科学学科区分开来。尽管许多学科研究材料和自然现象的特性，但只有化学本身才涉及新分子排列的准备。通过观察各种各样改善我们生活质量的新材料，可以很容易地赞赏过去综合努力的成功。Stony Brook的化学系非常幸运，能够在有机和无机化学领域拥有许多强大的合成程序。正在进行的研究包括寻找产生新分子的创造性合成反应，评估我们的化学键合理论的新分子结构的合成以及具有异常物理性质的新化合物的合成（分子工程）。该计划的主要重点在于生物有机和生物无机化学领域。合成化学正被用于理解受体-底物相
The Department of Chemistry, within the College of Arts and Sciences, offers courses of study leading to the degrees of Master of Arts in Teaching Chemistry, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy. Students in the M.A.T. program must register through the School of Professional Development. A student in the Ph.D. program may choose dissertation research in any one of the diverse areas of chemistry represented by the interests of the program faculty, or may choose an interdisciplinary topic under the guidance of a faculty member in another program. Coordinated activities exist with several programs, and include optional concentrations in chemical physics and chemical biology. <br><br>The synthesis of new molecular compounds distinguishes chemistry from other scientific disciplines. Although many disciplines study the properties of materials and natural phenomena, only chemistry concerns itself with the preparation of new molecular arrangements. The success of past synthetic efforts can readily be appreciated by observing the vast array of new materials that have improved the quality of our lives. The Chemistry Department at Stony Brook is very fortunate to have many strong synthetic programs in both organic and inorganic chemistry. Among the studies underway are the search for inventive synthetic reactions to produce new molecules, the synthesis of new molecular structures to evaluate our theories of chemical bonding, and the synthesis of new compounds with unusual physical properties (molecular engineering). A major focus in the program lies in the areas of bio-organic and bio-inorganic chemistry. Synthetic chemistry is being applied to the understanding of receptor-substrate interactions as well as of enzyme function, the preparation of artificial enzymes, the mechanism of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, and the preparation of new compounds for the treatment of diseases.