Over the last three decades, the interface between chemistry and biology has grown increasingly dynamic, resulting in the rapid expansion of communication and collaboration amongst research scientists, faculty and students in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, biology, bioengineering, and beyond. This is due in part to society's growing demand for scientists, engineers and practitioners who can bring a more interdisciplinary approach to their work. For this reason, new elective courses at the undergraduate level that address topics crossing the traditional boundaries of chemistry and biology are increasingly necessary, as are courses that can provide traditional chemistry students with additional insight into the fundamental role that chemistry plays in the function and evolution of biological systems. Morrow's book builds on the foundation of a one-year introductory course in organic chemistry, focusing on familiar organic chemical processes associated with the biosynthesis of primary and secondary metabolites, with special emphasis on the latter group. Ultimately, it brings to undergraduate science majors the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of fundamental mechanistic organic chemistry within a meaningful biological context that goes far beyond the usual boxed essays or supplemental problems that increasingly crowd the margins of many introductory organic chemistry textbooks. The book offers ideal support for courses in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, pre-medicine and bioengineering programs.

This organized, annual serial provides a general review of structure/activity information for each synthetic compound discussed, clearly illustrates structures of compounds in every feasible synthetic pathway, and provides references to the primary literature for each reaction discussed.