Progress on the total synthesis of natural products in China: From 2006 to 2010

This paper summarizes the progress on the total syntheses of natural products accomplished in mainland China during the period from 2006 to 2010. The overview focuses on the first total synthesis of natural products of contemporary interest including alkaloids, cyclopeptides and cyclic depsipeptides, macrolides, terpenoids and steroids, saponins and glycosides. The development of novel synthetic strategies and methodologies, and application of new selective synthetic methods in the total syntheses of natural products are included as well.