Chemical synthesis is one of the key technologies underlying modern drug discovery and development. For the design and accessibility of novel structures and the rapid preparation of new test compounds and development candidates with often highly complex chemical architecture, it is essential to use state-of-the-art chemical synthesis technologies. Recent developments in the field of asymmetric catalysis point to a third class of catalysts besides the established enzymes and metal complexes, so-called organocatalysts. These low-molecular-weight, organic molecules enable highly chemo- and stereoselective chemical transformations for the rapid assembly of complex bioactive molecules of interest for the pharmaceutical industry.

This book presents the contributions from leading experts, with backgrounds in academia and industry, to an Ernst Schering Research Foundation Symposium held in April 2007. It illustrates current progress in organocatalysis in functional group interconversions, organocatalytic CC- and CX-bond formations with small molecules as well as peptide-based catalysts and genetically engineered enzymes and their applications in natural product and drug syntheses. It will be of interest to those who want a general overview of the topic, but also to those who want to learn more about the state of the art, current trends and perspectives in this highly dynamic field of research.

Chemical genomics is a highly interdisciplinary and very exciting field of research both in academics and in the life sciences industry. The Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop 58 was organized to bring together scientific leaders in the field to discuss the implications of chemical genomics for drug discovery. Various aspects of the interface between chemistry and biology are covered in this volume, such as chemogenomics efforts in the pharmaceutical industry, diversity-oriented synthesis, chemogenomic approaches to the study of cell function, screening technologies, and natural products as tools in chemical biology.

Targeting protein degradation using small molecules is one of the most exciting small-molecule therapeutic strategies in decades and a rapidly growing area of research. In particular, the development of proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTACs) as potential drugs capable of recruiting target proteins to the cellular quality control machinery for elimination has opened new avenues to address traditionally 'difficult to target' proteins. This book provides a comprehensive overview from the leading academic and industrial experts on recent developments, scope and limitations in this dynamically growing research area; an ideal reference work for researchers in drug discovery and chemical biology as well as advanced students.

Chemical synthesis is one of the key technologies underlying modern drug discovery and development. For the design and accessibility of novel structures and the rapid preparation of new test compounds and development candidates with often highly complex chemical architecture, it is essential to use state-of-the-art chemical synthesis technologies. Recent developments in the field of asymmetric catalysis point to a third class of catalysts besides the established enzymes and metal complexes, so-called organocatalysts. These low-molecular-weight, organic molecules enable highly chemo- and stereoselective chemical transformations for the rapid assembly of complex bioactive molecules of interest for the pharmaceutical industry.

This book presents the contributions from leading experts, with backgrounds in academia and industry, to an Ernst Schering Research Foundation Symposium held in April 2007. It illustrates current progress in organocatalysis in functional group interconversions, organocatalytic CC- and CX-bond formations with small molecules as well as peptide-based catalysts and genetically engineered enzymes and their applications in natural product and drug syntheses. It will be of interest to those who want a general overview of the topic, but also to those who want to learn more about the state of the art, current trends and perspectives in this highly dynamic field of research.