12.1 Reserpine

It is found, with other alkaloids, in the roots of the plant genus Rauwolfia and used in the treatment of some mental disorders as well as for the reduction of hypertension.

This lecture will focus on the Woodward total synthesis of reserpine (R. B. Woodward et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1956 , 78 , 2023; Tetrahedron 1958, 2, 1).