BRSM
BRSM obtained his PhD in total synthesis in the UK, completing several brightly coloured natural products. After a postdoctoral stint at an Ivy League school, he remained in the US, where he now works as a process chemist at a major pharmaceutical company.
He occasionally blogs about organic synthesis and chemical history at brsmblog.com
Opinion(+)-Microladallene B
A weird structure is enough to spark chemists’ interest, even without any obvious use
Opinion(‒)-Pavidolide B
An innovative approach to making five-membered carbon rings makes for a strikingly short synthesis
Opinion(+)-Pleuromutilin
Total synthesis is sometimes the only way to explore the chemical space around a natural product
Opinion(+)-Zincophorin methyl ester
New and old reactions combine for an elegant and concise synthesis
OpinionBatzelladine B
Taming basic and reactive nitrogen atoms makes alkaloids more attractive targets, says BRSM
Opinion(–)-Jiadifenolide
BRSM wonders what makes a route so good it becomes the last total synthesis of a complex target
OpinionLimaspermidine and deethylibophyllidine
Desymmetrisation offers a neat way to add tricky features, says BRSM
OpinionRubriflordilactone A
Sometimes it’s worth building aromatics instead of buying them, says BRSM
OpinionLycopodium alkaloids
Not all natural products are created equal. BRSM looks at a flexible route to some perennial favourites
OpinionPsylloborine A
Late stage dimerisation is a tantalisingly elegant but risky strategy for total synthesis, says BRSM
OpinionMandelalide A
New reactions need to belong in a synthesis, says BRSM, not be forced in for show