Total Synthesis

Abstract

Discoveries in organic chemistry have had profound impacts in many disciplines of science through the past century. Within the field of organic chemistry, research in total synthesis of natural products has provided a means of developing and advancing the study of different types of chemistry. The discovery of novel chemical transformations, use of total synthesis products in biochemical assay studies and structural studies of natural products are just a few examples of how total synthesis has influenced modern day chemistry. Developments in drug discovery such as the syntheses of penicillin and Taxol have led to applicable use of the science to help the greater global community. Total synthesis provides a means for chemists to use creativity and ingenuity to further develop knowledge of bioorganic compounds and to develop novel chemical transformations useful in medicinal chemistry. Within this paper, total synthesis will be illustrated as the most crowning achievement of modern day organic chemistry based on the earliest total syntheses, modern day total syntheses, the development of novel chemical reactions and its applicability to chemical biology research.