Triumph for unnatural synthesis

Abstract

Nature crafts many molecules from common precursors, but this approach isn't always possible in chemical synthesis. A strategy for synthesizing a family of natural products succeeds by ignoring nature's blueprint. See Article p.461 The natural plant defence molecule resveratrol has captured the public imagination thanks to its various beneficial effects in mice and its presence in red wine. But it may be the resveratrol oligomers that have more long-term potential as pharmaceuticals. They occur naturally and have a broad range of potent biological activities, but their complexity makes rational synthesis of new drug candidates very challenging. Snyder et al. now present a new three-stage strategy that should improve matters: it is programmable, controlled and potentially scalable. Similar principles should be transferable to other oligomeric families.