Natural product total synthesis using rearrangement reactions

Total synthesis of natural products has been an important pursuit in chemical synthesis due to their fascinating structural complexity and/or interesting biological activities. In most synthetic designs, the rapid construction of the core skeletons, the precise control of stereochemistry, and the identification of suitable synthons are key concerns, which, to a large extent, account for the overall synthetic efficiency. This review will highlight how rearrangement reactions can contribute in addressing these three concerns, thus simplifying the total synthesis campaigns.