Oxidation Reactions in the Current Total Synthesis of Natural Products

Abstract

Oxidation and oxidative reactions are a type of fundamental transformation in organic chemistry, which are indispensable for organic synthesis, especially for the total synthesis of natural products. Although there are many reviews on a specific oxidation reaction or oxidation reagent, a general review on diverse oxidation reactions and oxidation reagents in natural product synthesis has not yet been seen. In this review, we selected some total syntheses published during 2020 to 2025 from selected journals and surveyed the oxidation reactions and oxidative transformations employed thererin to reflect the current status of oxidation reactions. The article is organized by functional groups for oxidation and subcategorized by reagents/methods used in natural product synthesis. Prior to the categorized reactions, we selected ten total syntheses, analysed and commented on all the oxidative transformations involved. The information provided will not only be helpful for the chemists in the field of the total synthesis of natural products and for medicinal chemists to plan their syntheses, but also prompt synthetic organic chemists in general to develop modern oxidation reactions/reagents to suit the increasing needs of sustainable organic synthesis.