title: Walking in the woods with quantum chemistry--applications of quantum chemical calculations in natural products research.
abstract: This Highlight describes applications of quantum chemical calculations to problems in natural products chemistry, including the elucidation of natural product structures (distinguishing between constitutional isomers, distinguishing between diastereomers, and assigning absolute configuration) and determination of reasonable mechanisms for their formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, USA. djtantillo@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Dean J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Tantillo
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry*; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000737:chemistry; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013141:Spiro Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D013141:Spiro Compounds; C469535:hexacyclinol; C400358:plakotenin; C586007:rhizathalene A; C543843:vannusal B