Natural Product Synthesis in the 21st Century: Beyond the Mountain Top
ACS Central Science February 14, 2024 Ryan A. Shenvi 37 citations
Natural product synthesis began from human curiosity about matter and its medicinal uses, yielding molecules like strychnine, morphine, psilocybin, and ephedrine. The field advanced organic chemistry by studying nonmetal elements but later contracted in the United States as pharmaceutical companies divested and academic focus shifted to catalysis and applications-driven research. Now, with widespread bioassays and chemical biology tools, synthesis gains new relevance. Digital encoding and data science can apply hard-won insights to new challenges, allowing chemists to surpass natural properties. The essay contextualizes natural product synthesis for a broad audience and anticipates a bright future at the intersection of synthesis and biology.