Natural Product Synthesis at the Interface of Chemistry and Biology

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal 2014-08, Vol.20 (33), p.10204-10212
• Main Author: Hong, Jiyong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological Products - chemical synthesis; Biological Products - chemistry; Biology; Carbon - chemistry; chemical biology; Chemistry; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic - economics; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic - methods; Chemists; Drug Discovery; Drugs; Evolution; Humans; Natural products; organic synthesis; Product innovation; Strategy; Synthesis (chemistry); synthetic efficiency
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201402804

Nature has evolved to produce unique and diverse natural products that possess high target affinity and specificity. Natural products have been the richest sources for novel modulators of biomolecular function. Since the chemical synthesis of urea by Wöhler, organic chemists have been intrigued by natural products, leading to the evolution of the field of natural product synthesis over the past two centuries. Natural product synthesis has enabled natural products to play an essential role in drug discovery and chemical biology. With the introduction of novel, innovative concepts and strategies for synthetic efficiency, natural product synthesis in the 21st century is well poised to address the challenges and complexities faced by natural product chemistry and will remain essential to progress in biomedical sciences. Getting back to nature! Organic chemists have advanced the field of natural product synthesis to capitalize on the unique structural diversity and interesting biological activity of natural products. This Concept article highlights the essential role of natural product synthesis in drug discovery and chemical biology as well as recent innovations to address the challenges in natural product chemistry.