  The late stages of stellar evolution from asymptotic giant branch stars to
planetary nebulae are now known to be an active phase of molecular synthesis.
Over 80 gas-phase molecules have been detected through rotational transitions
in the mm/submm region. Infrared spectroscopy has also detected inorganic
minerals, fullerenes, and organic solids. The synthesis of these molecules and
solids take place over very low density ($<10^6$ cm$^{-3}$) and short
($\sim10^3$ yr) time scales. The complex organics are observed to have mixed
aromatic/aliphatic structures and may be related to the complex organics found
in meteorites, comets, interplanetary dust particles, and planetary satellites.
The possible links between stellar and solar system organics is discussed.
