The year 2011 was particularly rich in reviews involving the synthesis and transformations
of a wide structural range of 0- and S-6-membered heterocycles and some on
their biological properties, reflecting their importance for the scientific conmmnity.
An overview on the structure and biological activity of naturally occurring withanolides
< 11 NPR 705> and a review on structure, biological activity, and synthesis ofplant
polyphenols < 11AGE586>, matine natural products < 11 NPR196, 11NPR269>, and
aromatic cyclopenta[c]pyrans < 11JHC747> have appeared. The synthesis of the vatious
structural subcategoties oflimonoids has also been surveyed <11EJ019>.
More specific reviews include a critical attempt to discuss a structure-activity
relationship among a series of trioxane- and tetraoxane-based compounds
< 11CMC3889>, and a report on the bioactivity and scope of the synthetic methods
of chromenopyridines, with emphasis on multicomponent and robust methodologies,
as well as reactivity issues and medical applications < 11 CMC4761 > . The powerful
synthetic strategy using the thiopyran template route to the enantio- and diastereoselective
synthesis of polypropionates, and some natural products or synthetic key
intermediates, has been reviewed <11CC1 1375>.
