Method in the Madness – Methodology from Total Synthesis

Abstract

A review surveying the synthetic methodology developed by the Williams group over the last ten years, driven by natural product total synthesis, is presented. An underlying theme over this time has been the reliance on physical organic chemistry, organometallics and the cyclohexane ring system.

1 Introduction

2 Morita–Baylis–Hilman (MBH) Reaction

3 2-Iodoxybenzoic Acid (IBX)

4 Wittig Reagents

5 cis-Alkenes for 6π-Electrocyclisations

6 Ketal-Claisen Rearrangements

7 Silver(I) Acetylides

8 Photochemistry

9 Acyl Anion Equivalents

10 Conclusion

Key words

natural products - total synthesis - synthetic methodology - chemical reactivity - organometallics - cyclohexanes

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