Steroid dimers are an important group of compounds produced by various marine organisms, and also synthesized in the laboratories. This group of compounds possesses various pharmacological and biological properties, and can also be used to create “molecular umbrellas” for drug delivery. Steroid Dimers: Chemistry and Applications in Drug Design and Delivery provides an up-to-date overview on the chemistry and applications of steroid dimers of natural and synthetic origins. The book includes easy-to-follow synthetic protocols for various classes of important dimeric steroids, source details, valuable spectroscopic data and depiction of unique structural features of natural steroidal dimers, and the Structure-Activity-Relationships (SARs) of some pharmacologically active dimeric steroids. Topics covered include: introduction to steroid dimers synthesis and chemistry of noncyclic and cyclic steroid dimers naturally occurring steroid dimers – cephalostatins, ritterazines and crellastatins biological and pharmacological functions of steroid dimers and their application in drug design and discovery steroid dimers as “molecular umbrellas” for drug delivery Steroid Dimers: Chemistry and Applications in Drug Design and Delivery is an essential guide to this important class of natural and synthetic compounds for researchers and students of natural products chemistry and biochemistry, synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry, and drug design, discovery and delivery.

Extensive experimentation and high failure rates are a well-recognised downside to the drug discovery process, with the resultant high levels of inefficiency and waste producing a negative environmental impact. Sustainable and Green Approaches in Medicinal Chemistry reveals how medicinal and green chemistry can work together to directly address this issue. After providing essential context to the growth of green chemistry in relation to drug discovery in Part 1, the book goes on to identify a broad range of practical methods and synthesis techniques in Part 2. Part 3 reveals how medicinal chemistry techniques can be used to improve efficiency, mitigate failure and increase the environmental benignity of the entire drug discovery process, whilst Parts 4 and 5 discuss natural products and microwave-induced chemistry. Finally, the role of computers in drug discovery is explored in Part 6. - Identifies novel and cost effective green medicinal chemistry approaches for improved efficiency and sustainability - Reflects on techniques for a broad range of compounds and materials - Highlights sustainable and green chemistry pathways for molecular synthesis

In Volume 18 of this well-established series, Professor Atta-ur-Rahman again brings together the work of several of the world's leading authorities in organic chemistry. Their contributions demonstrate the rapid, ongoing development of this field by illustrating many of the latest advances in synthetic methods, total synthesis, structure determination, biosynthetic pathways, and biological activity.The opening chapter presents an overview of strategies for the synthesis of several classes of natural products with an emphasis on complex polycyclic systems. Subsequent chapters discuss the synthesis of specific classes of compounds, including morphine, polyketides, acetogenins, nonactic acid derivatives, complex spirocyclic ethers, ä-lactam and pyridone derivatives, inositol phosphates, sphingolipids, brassinosteroids, Hernandia lignans, and dimeric steroidal pyrazine alkaloids. Finally, the ever stronger links between chemistry and biology are reinforced by chapters on the origin and function of secondary metabolites, bioactive conformations of gastrin hormones, and immunochemistry.

A steroid is an organic molecule having four rings organized in a specific molecular configuration that is biologically active. Steroids serve two principal biological functions. First, they are important components of cell membranes that affect membrane fluidity. Second, they act as signaling molecules. Animals, plants, and fungi all contain hundreds of steroids. Steroid hormones influence metabolism and the biological processes. These hormones affect endocrine functions such as sexual differentiation and reproductive life. The pharmaceutical industry has used steroids for making anticancer, anti-inflammatories, anticonvulsants, contraceptives, and fertility drugs. Steroid dimers are a class of chemicals that are produced by a variety of marine creatures and can also be manufactured in laboratories. This class of compounds has a wide range of pharmacological and biological properties, and can be utilized to make molecular umbrellas for drug delivery. This book explores all the important aspects of steroids in the present-day scenario. It is a valuable compilation of topics, encompassing their chemistry as well as applications in drug design and delivery. This book is a vital tool for all researching or studying steroids.