Monday, April 11, 2011
Packing dense functionality in a cyclopentane framework is how the soil microorganism Streptomyces pactum produces pactamycin, a cytotoxic and antibacterial aminocyclopentitol. S. Hanessian and co-workers describe the first total synthesis of pactamycin in their Communication. This cover image shows intermediates that eventually culminate in pactamycin.