"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
The bark of the Pacific yew tree produces Taxol, found to be a highly effective drug against ovarian and breast cancer. Taxol blocks mitosis during eukaryotic cell division. The supply of Taxol from the Pacific yew tree is vanishingly small, however.
A single 100-year-old tree provides only about one dose of the drug (roughly 300 mg). For this reason, as well as the spectacular molecular architecture of Taxol, synthetic organic chemists fiercely undertook efforts to synthesize it. Five total syntheses of Taxol have thus far been reported. Now, a combination of isolation of a related metabolite from European yew needles, and synthesis of Taxol from that intermediate, supply the clinical demand.
This case clearly demonstrates the importance of synthesis and the use of organic chemistry. It's just one of the many examples used in the text that will spark the interest of students and get them involved in the study of organic chemistry!
Craig Barton Fryhle is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Pacific Lutheran University. He earned his B.A. degree from Gettysburg College and Ph.D. from Brown University. Professor Fryhle's research interests relate to enzymes and metabolites of the shikimic acid pathway. His current research involves conformational studies of shikmate pathway substrates and analogues by molecular modeling and NMR spectrometry, and structure and reactivity studies of enzymes in the shikimic acid pathway. He has received research and instrumentation grants from the National Science Foundation, the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, and other private foundations. Professor Fryhle's work in chemical education has involved incorporation of active and computer-based learning strategies in organic chemistry, development of new experiments for undergraduate organic and instrumental analysis courses, and background work on the previous edition of this text. He is a volunteer with hands-on science programs in Seattle public schools. He was the 1999 Chair of the Puget Sound Section of the American Chemical Society. He lives in Seattle with his wife Deanna, and daughters Lauren and Heather.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 8.50
Within U.S.A.
Book Description Condition: New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! 5.9. Seller Inventory # Q-047141803X