Applications of total synthesis toward the discovery of clinically useful anticancer agents

This tutorial review provides a historical sampling of synthetic efforts undertaken in our laboratory, which have led to the total syntheses of a range of small molecule natural products of potential interest in oncology. It has become evident that natural products, and structures clearly derivable from natural products, have a remarkable record in the treatment of cancer at the clinical level. It is likely that, with the growing power of chemical synthesis, small molecule natural products will play a continuing role in providing lead anticancer compounds.