Taxol, a molecule for all seasons

The diterpenoid natural product taxol, first discovered in the 1960's has p roved to be the most important new anticancer drug introduced in the last t en years. A brief history of taxol's development from laboratory curiosity to blockbuster drug is followed by a summary of its chemistry, including an overview of the six completed syntheses of taxol. The review concludes wit h a discussion of its bioactivity as a promoter of tubulin polymerization a nd as a drug.