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Updated: Aug 13, 2025

Free Radicals in Chemical Biology: from Chemical Behavior to Biomarker Development
Published on: April 15, 2013
Combining the best of both worlds: radical-based divergent total synthesis
Kyriaki Gennaiou1, Antonios Kelesidis1, Maria Kourgiantaki1
1Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece.
Abstract:
A mature science, combining the art of the total synthesis of complex natural structures and the practicality of delivering highly diverged lead compounds for biological screening, is the constant aim of the organic chemistry community. Delivering natural lead compounds became easier during the last two decades, with the evolution of green chemistry and the concepts of atom economy and protecting-group-free synthesis dominating the field of total synthesis. In this new era, total synthesis is moving towards natural efficacy by utilizing both the biosynthetic knowledge of divergent synthesis and the latest developments in radical chemistry. This contemporary review highlights recent total syntheses that incorporate the best of both worlds.
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