Learning from nature: cascade reactions in synthesis

Abstract

Terpenes are one of the most abundant classes of natural products, with over 55.000 compounds isolated. Two fundamental aspects must be considered in the biosynthetic routes involved in their training. On one hand, a cascade polycyclization reaction, to generate the polycyclic skeleton followed by, successives steps of oxidation and/or derivatization. This review gives an overview of the advantages offered by cascade reactions toward total synthesis of terpenoids with complex molecular architectures, as well as synthetic potential of insaturation in domino processes.