Natural product chemistry

In the natural product chemistry laboratory. Extraction apparatus

As natural products chemistry , the branch of chemistry is referred to, which deals with the isolation, identification, synthesis, and structure elucidation of natural substances is concerned, which have sometimes highly complex structures and sometimes of extraordinary interest for instance as drug are.

Milestones

The isolation of morphine by Friedrich Sertürner (1805) is considered the first milestone in natural product chemistry . Friedrich Wöhler's urea synthesis (1828) from ammonium cyanate led to a rethink in chemistry, as it was shown for the first time that no special biological forces were required to produce a natural substance known from living nature from an inorganic base.

Further highlights were the study of terpenes by Otto Wallach (Nobel Prize 1910) and of carbohydrates and amino acids by Emil Fischer (Nobel Prize 1902), the total synthesis of non-aromatic steroids such as cholesterol by Robert Robinson and Robert B. Woodward in 1951, the structure elucidation of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick (Nobel Prize 1962), the structure elucidation of insulin by Frederick Sanger (Nobel Prize 1958) and the total synthesis of this protein by Helmut Zahn in 1963 and the total synthesis of vitamin B ₁₂ by Albert Eschenmoser and Robert B. Woodward (Nobel Prize 1965).

In addition to the preparative masterpiece of the total synthesis of vitamin B _{12, it is} noteworthy that the formation of an unexpected stereoisomer in one of the synthetic steps ultimately led to the development of the Woodward-Hoffmann rules .

target direction

Several goals are pursued in natural product chemistry. An important aspect is the structure elucidation of natural substances. Furthermore, the development of strategies for the effective synthesis of natural substances is in the foreground. As striking example of the synthesis is Palytoxin by Yoshito Kishi to name and employees in 1994, as Palytoxin 2 ⁶⁴ possible stereoisomers has. The identification of pharmacologically active structures in natural products is also important, as this can considerably simplify the development of effective drugs.

Substance groups

Typical groups of substances that are examined in natural product chemistry are

• Enzymes ,
• Carbohydrates ,
• Polyketides ,
• Terpenes ,
• Steroids ,
• Amino acids ,
• Peptides ,
• Proteins and
• Alkaloids .

literature

• P. Nuhn , L. Wessjohann: Naturstoffchemie. Microbial, vegetable and animal natural substances. 4th edition. S. Hirzel Verlag 2006.
• G. Habermehl , P. Hammann, H. Krebs, W. Ternes : Naturstoffchemie. An introduction. 3. Edition. Springer Verlag 2008.
• KBG Torssell: Natural Product Chemistry, Apotekarsocieteten 1997.
• J. Mann, RS Davidson, JB Hobbs, DV Banthorpe, JB Harborne: Natural Products — Their chemistry and biological significance, Longman 1994.
• PM Dewick: Medicinal Natural Products, Wiley 1997.
• J. Harborne: Ecological Biochemistry. An introduction. 1st edition. Springer Verlag 1995.
• Natural Product Synthesis in Chemical Reviews . 2005: 12: 4235-4807.
• Mark S. Butler: The Role of Natural Product Chemistry in Drug Discovery In: Journal of Natural Products . 2004: 12: 2141-2153. doi : 10.1021 / np040106y
• DD Baker, M. Chu, U. Oza and V. Rajgarhia: The value of natural products to future pharmaceutical discovery In: Natural Product Reports . 2007: 24: 1225-1244. doi : 10.1039 / b602241n
• DJ Faulkner: Highlights of marine natural products chemistry (1972-1999) In: Natural Product Reports . 2000: 17: 1-6. doi : 10.1039 / a909113k

Web links

• Introduction to natural product chemistry

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Tomáš Hudlický, Josephine W. Reed: The way of synthesis: evolution of design and methods for natural products. Wiley, 2007, ISBN 978-3-527-32077-6 . Pp. 891-905.