Natural Products Chemistry Overview

The study of how people in different cultures use plants for medicinal purposes.

A traditional Chinese medicinal mushroom known for its ability to increase energy and boost immunity.

A traditional Indian system of medicine that uses plants, minerals, and other natural substances to treat illnesses.

A traditional Japanese system of medicine that combines traditional Chinese medicine and other ancient practices.

A traditional medicine system in Africa that emphasizes the use of plants, herbs, and other natural remedies.

A large class of naturally occurring organic compounds found in plants and animals, characterized by their multiple of five carbon atoms, forming a basic building block of isoprene.

A five-carbon (C5) branched hydrocarbon unit that is the basic structural unit for terpenes.

The process of linking isoprene units together in a 'head-to-tail' fashion, forming a longer terpene chain.

Terpenes composed of two isoprene units with the molecular formula C10H16.

Terpenes consisting of four isoprene units, having the molecular formula C20H32.

Terpenes containing six isoprene units and the molecular formula C30H48.

Terpenes that consist of eight isoprene units with the molecular formula C40H64.

Terpenes containing a long chain of many isoprene units, examples include natural rubber.

A group of small molecules characterized by their structures having at least one phenol unit. They play a role in plant adaptation to environmental stress conditions, exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, and are associated with flavor, color, and sensory properties of beer.

A class of naturally occurring organic nitrogen-containing bases. They generally contain at least one nitrogen atom in an amine-type structure, react with acids to form salts, and have one or more nitrogen atoms as part of a ring structure. Their names often end in '-ine'.

Plants like the Brassicaceae family can synthesize a wide range of sulfur-containing secondary metabolites including glucosinolates, thiosulfinates (like allicin), and reactive sulfur species. These compounds contribute to the plant's defense mechanisms and unique flavors.

A type of terpene found in various plants, known for its characteristic pungent aroma and medicinal properties used in traditional medicine.

A terpene is a large class of naturally occurring organic compounds produced by a variety of plants, fungi, and bacteria. They are known for their diverse biological activities and are often found in essential oils.

A type of chromatography that separates molecules based on their size. It involves the use of a porous gel matrix, where smaller molecules can penetrate the pores and elute later than larger molecules.

A specific type of SEC that uses an organic solvent as the mobile phase.

A powerful analytical technique that provides insights into the functional groups present in a molecule by analyzing its interaction with infrared radiation. It helps identify specific bonds and functional groups within a molecule, providing valuable information for structure elucidation.

A technique that measures the absorbance of a compound at different wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) and visible (Vis) light. It can help determine the maximum absorbance wavelength (λmax) of a compound, assisting in identifying the presence of conjugated systems and validating proposed structures.

A technique that separates ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio. It's used to determine the molecular weight of a compound and, in conjunction with IR spectroscopy, can suggest possible molecular formulas.

A powerful technique used to determine the spin system of a molecule by exposing it to a strong magnetic field and analyzing the interaction between the field and the nuclei present in the molecule. This technique is highly effective in revealing details about the structure of the molecule.

A type of spectroscopy that measures the differential absorption of left and right circularly polarized light. It's particularly useful for studying chiral molecules, as these compounds exhibit different absorptions for the two types of polarized light, providing information about their stereochemistry.

A chromatography technique that uses a packed column filled with a stationary phase (e.g., silica, alumina, cellulose) and a mobile phase (similar to those used in TLC) to separate and purify larger amounts of material.

A chromatography technique that separates volatile compounds by their different boiling points and affinities to a stationary phase inside a heated column. The separated components are detected as they exit the column.

A chromatography technique that separates charged molecules based on their interactions with a charged stationary phase.

A chromatography technique that utilizes activated charcoal as a stationary phase for adsorption of molecules. It is a simple and effective method for separating polar compounds, and it can be used with both organic and aqueous solvents.

A high-resolution chromatography type that utilizes a column packed with a stationary phase (often C-18) and a mobile phase to separate complex mixtures of compounds. The reverse phase mode is the most common, where the stationary phase is nonpolar and the mobile phase is polar.

A technique that separates charged molecules based on their mobility in an electric field. Molecules migrate at different rates based on their charge and size, leading to separation.

Column chromatography using a stationary phase composed of polyamide beads that can form hydrogen bonds with target molecules, leading to separation based on the strength of these bonds.

A chromatography technique that separates compounds based on their molecular size and shape. Larger molecules elute more quickly than smaller ones, as they do not penetrate the pores of the stationary phase as easily.

A technique used to determine the arrangement of atoms in a crystalline solid in three dimensions. It utilizes the diffraction of X-rays by the electron clouds of atoms to create a three-dimensional representation of the electron density within the crystal.

A method used to measure the difference in absorption of left and right circularly polarized light. This technique helps scientists study the structures of optically active molecules (chiral media).

The process of determining the structure of a molecule by combining information obtained from various spectroscopic techniques. It involves analyzing the spectra from different methods like IR, NMR, and Mass Spectrometry.

A spectroscopy technique that measures the absorption of infrared (IR) radiation by molecules. It helps identify the functional groups present in a molecule based on the specific frequencies of absorption.

A spectroscopy technique that measures the absorption of ultraviolet (UV) radiation by molecules. It helps determine if a molecule contains conjugated systems by identifying characteristic UV absorption bands.

A spectroscopy technique that measures the absorption of radio waves by the nuclei of atoms, specifically hydrogen nuclei. It provides information about the number of types of hydrogen atoms, their connectivity, and their chemical environment within a molecule.

A spectroscopy technique that measures the absorption of radio waves by the nuclei of carbon atoms. It determines the number and types of carbon atoms present in a molecule based on their chemical environments.