Natural Products in the Chemical Industry

Bernd Schaefer studied chemistry in Kaiserslautern and received his PhD for research on metal-catalysed, stereoselective cycloadditions of methylenecyclopropanes to electron-deficient olefins from the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung in Mülheim, Germany. His professional career at BASF covers research and development in the areas of plant protection, pharmaceutical chemistry and fine chemicals. In 2000, Bernd Schaefer was appointed lecturer and in 2009 Honorary Professor at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität in Heidelberg. Besides natural product chemistry, his special areas of interest include catalysis and enantioselective synthesis.This work was carefully translated by David Smith and Bernd Janssen.

• Introduction.- Colourants.- Flavours and Fragrances.- Amino Acids.- Pharmaceuticals.- Hormones.- Vitamins.- Agrochemicals.

"Schaefer ... has written an outstanding text for anyone with a chemistry background who enjoys learning about and understanding the connection between the historical and present-day pharmaceutical, fine, and specialty chemical industries. ... Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners." (L. J. Liotta, Choice, Vol. 53 (1), September, 2015) "... Die Auswahl umfasst viele der grossten Erfolge in der Geschichte der angewandten Naturstoff-Forschung, und der Leser erhalt auf diese Weise einen guten Uberblick uber die Historie und die Bedeutung der Naturstoffe fur die menschliche Zivilisation. ... Studierende der Chemie und Pharmazie im leicht fortgeschrittenen Stadium und selbst Wissenschaftler, die fachverwandten Disziplinen angehoren, sicherlich uber die Lekture dieses Buchs einen guten Einstieg in diese faszinierende Thematik finden ..." (Frank Surup, Marc Stadler, in: Angewandte Chemie, Jg. 127, Heft 31, Juli 2015) "The author describes the motivations for industrial chemistry, and explains the importance of cost-efficient total syntheses. ... this book is highly recommended ... . We are sure that this book will have a strong impact, considering on the one hand the revival of interest in natural products in the age of multi-resistant human and plant pathogens, and on the other hand the emphasis on bio-economy in various areas of life sciences and biotechnology." (Frank Surup and Marc Stadler, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Vol. 54 (31), July, 2015) "This book describes natural products chemistry with the eyes of an industrial chemist. ... Each chapter is abundantly illustrated and very agreeable to read. ... The book is very pleasant to read, instructive and very didactic. The study of various retrosynthetic analyses ... will be of great interest to undergraduate students. ... This book should be part of any chemist's library who is interested in natural product chemistry." (Prof. Dr. Paul Knochel, Synthesis, Vol. 47,2015)