Spinosad - a case study: an example from a natural products discovery programme

The discovery and characterization of the soil actinomycete, Saccharopolysp ora spinosa, and the insecticidal metabolite spinosad is presented as a cas e history of a successful project emerging from a natural products crop pro tection discovery programme. A who, what and how approach is utilized to co mmunicate the events around the discovery and development of the project. T he companies and departments involved are listed with insight into their st ructure and philosophy. A detailed description of spinosad and its properti es is also provided. Finally an overview is given of the various tasks requ ired and hurdles that were overcome to bring the project to a commercial su ccess. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.