title: Recent advances in the chemistry of taxol.
abstract: The history of the development of the important anticancer drug taxol (1) is briefly described, and recent studies of its chemistry and tubulin-binding conformation are then presented. Topics discussed include side chain attachment to baccatin III (3a), the effect of oxygenation of the taxane ring system on bioactivity, the importance of the oxetane ring for bioactivity, the synthesis of a C-6/C-4 bridged analogue, and the conformation of the side chain when taxol is bound in a complex with polymerized tubulin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0212, USA. dkingston@vt.edu
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kingston
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel