Cover Picture: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 1/2003

The Art of Synthesis and the beauty of Nature lure so many chemists into total synthesis. The cover picture shows yellow jasmine in full bloom, from which the poisonous alkaloid gelsemine was isolated. The formula of gelsemine and important intermediates from six total syntheses are overlaid on the photograph. From these syntheses, we can learn which strategies represent the fastest and/or most efficient routes to the target. More about this fascinating compound and organic synthesis at its best can be found in the Review by S. J. Danishefsky and H. Lin on pg. 36 ff.