Main description:

While there are numerous books on heterocycles and natural products, this text fills the need for an up-to-date summary focusing on recently developed and improved synthetic methods for the preparation of the most important classes of lactones and lactams - all in one volume. Comprehensive in its coverage, this book also provides readers with a brief description of the occurrence and biological or pharmaceutical activity of the compounds, and each chapter deals with a certain class of lactones or lactames to enable quick access to the information needed. A valuable resource for organic chemists, biochemists and medicinal chemists in academia and industry wanting to learn about successful synthetic routes leading to important natural products and use this as inspiration for their own work in the lab.

Contents:

Preface TETRONIC ACIDS Introduction Natural Occurrence, Biological Activities, and Biosynthesis 5-Ylidene Tetronic Natural Products 5-Monosubstituted Tetronic Natural Products 5-Disubstituted Tetronic Natural Products 5-Unsubstituted Tetronic Natural Products Conclusions RECENT ADVANCES IN THE FIELD OF NATURALLY OCCURRING 5,6-DIHYDROPYRAN-2-ONES Introduction Synthetic Methodologies for 5,6-Dihydropyran-2-ones Formation of Stereogenic Centers inside the Dihydropyrone Ring Pharmacological Properties of Pyrones Biosynthetic Formation of Pyrones Syntheses of Natural 5,6-Dihydropyran-2-ones Reported during the Period from 2006 to the First Half of 2012 BETA-LACTAMS Introduction Monocyclic Beta-Lactams Penams Cephalosporins Clavulanic Acid Carbapenems Spiro-Fused Beta-Lactams Summary ALPHA-ALKYLIDENE-GAMMA- AND DELTA-LACTONES AND LACTAMS Introduction Occurrence, Biosynthesis, and Biological Activities of Alpha-Alkylidene Gamma- and Delta-Lactones and Lactams Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Alpha-Alkylidene Gamma- and Delta-Lactones and Lactams Conclusions MEDIUM-SIZED LACTONES Introduction Total Synthesis of Eight-Membered Lactones Total Synthesis of Nine-Membered Lactones Conclusions MACROLACTONES Introduction General Methods for the Synthesis of Macrolactones Synthesis of Macrolides Synthesis of Macrodiolides Synthesis of Macrotriolides Conclusions and Perspectives RESORCYLIC ACID LACTONES Introduction - A Historical Perspective Biosynthesis Chemical Synthesis Conclusion and Outlook CYCLIC PEPTIDES Introduction Synthesis of Natural Lactones and Lactams Conclusion Index