How Do Catalysts Aid in Natural Product Synthesis?
Catalysts can significantly enhance the yields and selectivities of complex organic transformations necessary for natural product synthesis. They facilitate reactions such as C-H activation, cross-coupling reactions, and asymmetric synthesis. For example, transition metal catalysts, like palladium or ruthenium, are commonly employed in cross-coupling reactions to form carbon-carbon bonds, which are crucial in constructing the skeletons of many natural products.
