Invention of new reactions useful in the chemistry of natural products

The design of new Radical chain reactions useful in the synthesis or modification of Natural Products is discussed. Such reactions can give good yields, and show a selectivity which complements perfectly the ionic reactions in more general use. A flexible system for the production of many kinds of carbon radicals has been invented. It should be applicable for the generation of other kinds of radicals based on elements other than carbon. In the design of these reactions a vital role is played by a disciplinary group (usually the thiocarbonyl group), an idea which is of general application in the invention of radical chain reactions. In a final section a new synthesis of pyrroles is described which is specially designed (by S.Z.Z) for intermediates in the preparation of porphyrins.