Total syntheses of strained polycyclic terpenes

Area of Science:

• Organic Chemistry
• Natural Product Synthesis
• Medicinal Chemistry

Background:

• Terpenoids are a diverse class of natural products with significant structural and bioactive variability.
• Their complex structures, often featuring strained small rings, present synthetic challenges.
• These compounds have garnered substantial interest from the chemical community for over 150 years.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in the total synthesis of terpenoids.
• To highlight strategies for constructing complex terpenoid frameworks, particularly those containing small rings.
• To emphasize new developments in synthetic methodologies and approaches.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of recent total synthesis examples of complex terpenoids.
• Analysis of strategic and tactical approaches in constructing strained ring systems.
• Focus on innovative chemical methodologies applied to terpenoid synthesis.

Main Results:

• Showcase of successful total syntheses of terpenoids with intricate carbon skeletons.
• Illustration of novel methods for assembling strained small rings within terpenoid structures.
• Identification of emerging trends in synthetic strategies for complex natural products.

Conclusions:

• The total synthesis of complex terpenoids, especially those with small rings, continues to drive innovation in organic chemistry.
• Recent synthetic efforts have expanded the toolkit for constructing challenging molecular architectures.
• Further research in synthetic strategies will enable access to novel terpenoid analogs with potential bioactivity.