Semisynthesis
Sign in to saveSemisynthesis, or partial chemical synthesis, is a type of chemical synthesis that uses chemical compounds isolated from natural sources (such as microbial cell cultures or plant material) as the starting materials to produce novel compounds with distinct chemical and medicinal properties. The novel compounds generally have a high molecular weight or a complex molecular structure, more so than those produced by total synthesis from simple starting materials. Semisynthesis is a means of preparing many medicines more cheaply than by total synthesis since fewer chemical steps are necessary.
~4 min read
Article
5 sectionsContents
- Biological vs engineered pathways
- Applications
- Notable examples in drug development
- See also
- References
Semisynthesis, or partial chemical synthesis, is a type of chemical synthesis that uses chemical compounds isolated from natural sources (such as microbial cell cultures or plant material) as the starting materials to produce novel compounds with distinct chemical and medicinal properties. The novel compounds generally have a high molecular weight or a complex molecular structure, more so than those produced by total synthesis from simple starting materials. Semisynthesis is a means of preparing many medicines more cheaply than by total synthesis since fewer chemical steps are necessary.
thumb|right|400px|alt=|Semisynthesis of paclitaxel. Installation of the necessary side chain and acetyl group of paclitaxel by a short series of steps, starting from isolated 10-deacetylbaccatine III. thumb|right|400px|alt=|An undesirable lactone ring in [[artemisinin is replaced by an acetal by reduction with potassium borohydride, followed by methoxylation.]]