Divergent Strategy in Natural Product Total Synthesis

The divergent total syntheses of complex natural products from a common intermediate have attracted enormous attention in the chemical community in the past few years because it can improve the efficiency of chemical synthesis. A number of powerful and unified strategies have been developed by emulating the natural biosynthesis or through innovative transformations. This review focuses on the total synthesis of natural products by applying divergent strategies and the literature covering from 2013 to June 2017. On the basis of where the diversity comes from, the examples are grouped into three parts and discussed in detail. In each group, the examples that synthesize natural products belonging to the same subfamily are put together to contrast with one another.