Studies on the chemistry of Taxol®
The diterpenoid taxol has become an important first-line treatment for ovarian and breast cancer in women, and has potential applications in the treatment of other cancers. Studies over the last decade in several laboratories have led to a greatly increased understanding of its chemistry, culminating in three impressive syntheses of the natural product. The results of studies carried out in the author's laboratory are discussed, leading to conclusions about taxol's structure-activity relationships.