Total synthesis

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A total synthesis is the complete chemical synthesis of complex organic molecules from simple, commercially available (often petrochemical) precursors. Total syntheses are often used as a playground for the development of new chemical reactions and routes, and highlight the sophistication of modern synthetic organic chemistry.

Classical examples are the total syntheses of quinine, cholesterol, cortisone, strychnine, lysergic acid, reserpine, chlorophyll, colchicine, vitamin B₁₂ and prostaglandin F-2a by the Nobel Prize winner Robert Burns Woodward between 1945 and 1976.

Elias James Corey won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1990 for lifetime achievement in total synthesis and the development of retrosynthetic analysis. In 2005 the group of Corey published a Aflatoxin total synthesis

The first demonstration of organic total synthesis was Friedrich Wöhler's synthesis of urea in 1828, which demonstrated that organic molecules can be produced from inorganic precursors. The first commercialized total synthesis was Gustaf Komppa's synthesis and industrial production of camphor in 1903.

Among many groups who have made great strides in advancing the art and science of total synthesis, Kyriacos Costa Nicolaou at The Scripps Research Institute has also produced a number review articles and books that highlight some of the accomplishments of the field (and are of great didactic utility if one should like to dig deeper into this fascinating and inspiring field). One example of his work is his contribution to Taxol total synthesis.

References

• Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 39: 44-122 (2000) (Review, pdf)
• Nicolaou, K. C.; Sorensen, E. J. Classics in Total Synthesis, 1996.
• Nicolaou, K. C.; Snyder, S. A. Classics in Total Synthesis II, 2003.
• Total Synthesis Highlightspl:Synteza totalna