Total synthesis of Taxol
Síntesis total del taxol (paclitaxel)
- Date
- 1994 · confidence high
- Place
- Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla (Nicolaou), and Florida State University, Tallahassee (Holton)
- Credited to
- Robert Holton and K. C. Nicolaou (independent groups, weeks apart)
- People
- 👤 K. C. Nicolaou1946–
- Field
- Matter & energy
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What was discovered
Two groups almost simultaneously complete the synthesis of the complex anticancer diterpene from the yew tree. Holton's semi-synthesis from 10-deacetylbaccatin resolved the drug's commercial supply.
Near-simultaneous publication by Holton (February 1994) and Nicolaou (Nature, 1994); a priority controversy.
What it led to
- Sustainable production of natural drugs
- Medicinal chemistry of natural products
- Design chemistry of analogues
Built on
- Retrosynthetic analysis (Corey)1967
- isolation of Taxol (Wall and Wani, 1971)
Made possible
- commercial semisynthetic Taxol
- docetaxel