Metal-catalysed C–H bond functionalisation has had a significant impact on how chemists make molecules. Translating the methodological developments to their use in the assembly of complex natural products is an important challenge for the continued advancement of chemical synthesis. In this tutorial review, we describe selected recent examples of how the metal-catalysed C–H bond functionalisation has been able to positively affect the synthesis of natural products.

Recent developments in natural product synthesis using metal-catalysed C–H bond functionalisation

Occurrence, Biogenesis, and Synthesis of Biologically Active Carbazole Alkaloids

https://chemistry.mdma.ch/hiveboard/rhodium/pdf/piper.phytochemistry.pdf

Phytochemistry of the genus Piper

Tubulin is the biochemical target for several clinically used anticancer drugs, including paclitaxel and the vinca alkaloids vincristine and vinblastine. This review describes both the natural and synthetic agents which are known to interact with tubulin. Syntheses of the more complex agents are referenced and the potential clinical use of the compounds is discussed. This review describes the biochemistry of tubulin, microtubules, and the mitotic spindle. The agents are discussed in relation to the type of binding site on the protein with which they interact. These are the colchicine, vinca alkaloid, rhizoxin/maytansine, and tubulin sulfhydryl binding sites. Also included are the agents which either bind at other sites or unknown sites on tubulin. The literature is reviewed up to October 1997. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Med Res Rev, 18, No. 4, 259–296, 1998.

Tubulin as a target for anticancer drugs: agents which interact with the mitotic spindle.

The recent advent of transition-metal mediated CH activation is revolutionizing the synthetic field and gradually infusing a “CH activation mind-set” in both students and practitioners of organic synthesis. As a powerful testament of this emerging synthetic tool, applications of CH activation in the context of total synthesis of complex natural products are beginning to blossom. Herein, recently completed total syntheses showcasing creative and ingenious incorporation of CH activation as a strategic manoeuver are compared with their “non-CH activation” counterparts, illuminating a new paradigm in strategic synthetic design.

C-H activation: a complementary tool in the total synthesis of complex natural products.

Synthesis of retrofractamide A

The root bark of Pongamia pinnata Pierre (syn P. glabra Vent.) has afforded a new biflavonyloxymethane, pongabiflavone, along with a known furanoflavone, 3-methoxy-(7, 8, 2", 3") furanoflavone. The structure of this new compound was elucidated from extensive spectral studies, including 2D-NMR spectroscopic experiments. The antioxidant, radical quenching activity- superoxide and nitric oxide quenching activities of both pongabiflavone and previously isolated karanjabiflavone have been evaluated which can be a key to cure Psoriasis.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X1100600511

A novel biflavonyloxymethane from Pongamia pinnata and its radical quenching activity.

Protein structure elucidation is very dependent on the detection of its constituent amino acids, because these are the structural units of proteins. They are also found in the free state in a different natural products. Several specific and non-specific reagents have been reported for detection of amino acids [1–6]; of these, ninhydrin is a widely accepted non-specific reagent with high sensitivity. The formation of an identical color (purple/violet) with all amino acids except proline and hydroxy proline is, however, a problem if specific detection of the amino acids is required.

Use of ninhydrin for detection of silylated amino acids

Alstonia scholaris- structure of the indole alkaloid nareline

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions. Part-XIII: Microwave irradiation assisted synthesis and spectroscopic investigations of C-aryl-N-phenyl and C -aryl -N-(4' -chlorophenyl )nitrones

Avijit Banerji

Papers

Synthesis of retrofractamide A

A novel biflavonyloxymethane from Pongamia pinnata and its radical quenching activity.

Use of ninhydrin for detection of silylated amino acids

Alstonia scholaris- structure of the indole alkaloid nareline

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions. Part-XIII: Microwave irradiation assisted synthesis and spectroscopic investigations of C-aryl-N-phenyl and C -aryl -N-(4' -chlorophenyl )nitrones