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Chemistry

Retrosynthetic Analysis of Complex Natural Product Architectures

Quick fact

One of the most celebrated examples of retrosynthetic analysis is the 1994 synthesis of the anti-cancer agent Taxol, where chemists deconstructed the molecule into two simpler halves that were joined by a key aldol reaction, illustrating how a daunting target can be broken into manageable pieces.

Why this is interesting

You’re handed a beautifully complex natural product—like a molecule with five rings and eight stereocenters—and asked to make it from simple bottles of chemicals. How on earth do you even start?