CH Activation: A Complementary Tool in the Total Synthesis of Complex Natural Products

The recent advent of transition‐metal mediated CH activation is revolutionizing the synthetic field and gradually infusing a “CH activation mind‐set” in both students and practitioners of organic synthesis. As a powerful testament of this emerging synthetic tool, applications of CH activation in the context of total synthesis of complex natural products are beginning to blossom. Herein, recently completed total syntheses showcasing creative and ingenious incorporation of CH activation as a strategic manoeuver are compared with their “non‐CH activation” counterparts, illuminating a new paradigm in strategic synthetic design. The total synthesis of natural products has been carried out showcasing the creative and ingenious application of CH activation in the construction of complex molecular architectures that are compared with their “non‐CH activation” counterparts. These accomplishments stood as true testaments of the growing potential of CH activation, and further cementing the power of this emerging synthetic technology (see figure).