The Dark Side of Total Synthesis

16 Apr

Prof. Marco Lombardo, Università degli Studi di Bologna
EMAIL: marco.lombardo@unibo.it

Schedule: early June (TBA)

3 or 6 h, 0.5 or 1 CFU

The use and the abuse of drugs have shaped the life of human beings for centuries, from ancient to modern times. The earliest references to opium production in Mesopotamia date back to 4000 B.C., and still today our society continues to struggle with the challenges of combating illicit drug production and distribution.
Total synthesis involves the design and development of efficient chemical syntheses for natural products and, more generally, complex molecular architectures. Exercises in total synthesis provide invaluable training for synthetic chemists, allowing to experience a wide variety of different chemical reactions and synthetic methodologies. This course will cover historical aspects, chemistry, and the total synthesis of the most renowned drugs, with exercises and perspectives on the most modern methodologies, with a particular emphasis on catalysis.