Lessons from the synthetic chemist nature.
This conceptual review examines the ideal multistep synthesis from the perspective of nature. We suggest that besides step- and redox economies, one other key to efficiency is steady state processing with intermediates that are immediately transformed to the next intermediate when formed. We discuss four of nature's strategies (multicatalysis, domino reactions, iteration and compartmentation) that commonly proceed via short-lived intermediates and show that these strategies are also part of the chemist's portfolio. We particularly focus on compartmentation which in nature is found microscopically within cells (organelles) and between cells and on a molecular level on multiprotein scaffolds (e.g. in polyketide synthases) and demonstrate how compartmentation is manifested in modern multistep flow synthesis.
Institut für Organische Chemie und Biomolekulares Wirkstoffzentrum (BMWZ), Leibniz Universität Hannover, Schneiderberg 1B, D-30167 Hannover, Germany. andreas.kirschning@oci.uni-hannover.de.
Gerrit
G
Jürjens
Andreas
A
Kirschning
David A
DA
Candito
D001688:Biological Products / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D061065:Polyketides / Q000378:metabolism
D001688:Biological Products; D061065:Polyketides