Preface
xi
formula for an entire series of compounds because of my own dislike of this
practice.
From the time when I began to think about the organization of this book
I was convinced that it should be written along chemical lines. The time has
come to emphasize structural relationships, and it may be advantageous to
view marine taxa from the up-to-now unconventional angle of structural
chemistry. This approach should help to focus attention on the peaks and
troughs that exist in our knowledge of marine natural products.
The only meaningful approach for a book dealing with marine natural
products is one that follows broad biogenetic concepts rather than functional group concepts. This is true even though practically none of the
biosynthetic relationships of marine-derived organic compounds have been
experimentally verified. Our considerable body of knowledge of biogenesis
of secondary metabolites in terrestrial organisms must therefore serve as a
guideline unless shown to be incorrect by future experimentation. Although
it is reasonable to assume that few new and unique fundamental biogenetic
pathways are apt to emerge from future marine research, even though the
metabolic end products may have new and unique structures, questions such
as the halogenation mechanism (why so few chlorine and so many bromine
compounds?), the synthesis of the sterol side chain of gorgosterol and its
congeners, or the synthesis of some of the complex marine toxins are fascinating topics for future research.
I have frequently attempted to point out where a particular plant or animal
"belongs" in its genealogy. In addition, a phylogenetic tree is included which
highlights the biological relationships and which hopefully serves as a ready
reference for the reader.
Although there are a few cross references in the book, each chapter stands
largely on its own and can be read independently of the others. Tables at
the end of each chapter or major section list the compounds and provide
key references.
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the help of my colleagues and associates
who have contributed greatly to the completion of this work. C. W. J. Chang,
J. S. Grossert, D. R. Idler, R. E. Moore, and A. W. Sangster read one or
more of the chapters and made valuable comments and suggestions. My
long-term collaborator A. H. Banner provided the sketch of the phylogenetic
tree on which Susan G. Monden based the design and illustration. Mavis
Kadooka typed the entire manuscript and drew many of the formulas.
Finally, I should like to express my gratitude to the members of my family,
my students, my colleagues, and all others who patiently suffered my neglect
while I was preparing the manuscript.
PAUL J. SCHEUER
xi
formula for an entire series of compounds because of my own dislike of this
practice.
From the time when I began to think about the organization of this book
I was convinced that it should be written along chemical lines. The time has
come to emphasize structural relationships, and it may be advantageous to
view marine taxa from the up-to-now unconventional angle of structural
chemistry. This approach should help to focus attention on the peaks and
troughs that exist in our knowledge of marine natural products.
The only meaningful approach for a book dealing with marine natural
products is one that follows broad biogenetic concepts rather than functional group concepts. This is true even though practically none of the
biosynthetic relationships of marine-derived organic compounds have been
experimentally verified. Our considerable body of knowledge of biogenesis
of secondary metabolites in terrestrial organisms must therefore serve as a
guideline unless shown to be incorrect by future experimentation. Although
it is reasonable to assume that few new and unique fundamental biogenetic
pathways are apt to emerge from future marine research, even though the
metabolic end products may have new and unique structures, questions such
as the halogenation mechanism (why so few chlorine and so many bromine
compounds?), the synthesis of the sterol side chain of gorgosterol and its
congeners, or the synthesis of some of the complex marine toxins are fascinating topics for future research.
I have frequently attempted to point out where a particular plant or animal
"belongs" in its genealogy. In addition, a phylogenetic tree is included which
highlights the biological relationships and which hopefully serves as a ready
reference for the reader.
Although there are a few cross references in the book, each chapter stands
largely on its own and can be read independently of the others. Tables at
the end of each chapter or major section list the compounds and provide
key references.
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the help of my colleagues and associates
who have contributed greatly to the completion of this work. C. W. J. Chang,
J. S. Grossert, D. R. Idler, R. E. Moore, and A. W. Sangster read one or
more of the chapters and made valuable comments and suggestions. My
long-term collaborator A. H. Banner provided the sketch of the phylogenetic
tree on which Susan G. Monden based the design and illustration. Mavis
Kadooka typed the entire manuscript and drew many of the formulas.
Finally, I should like to express my gratitude to the members of my family,
my students, my colleagues, and all others who patiently suffered my neglect
while I was preparing the manuscript.
PAUL J. SCHEUER