This course is taught periodically and serves as one of the chemistry department's elective choices. The study of natural products encompasses a bewildering range of topics which would span the entire library catalogue. We can only do so much in our allotted time and so I've selected some areas of study to form the basis of the course while others will be developed depending on your interests.

The core of our work will be wrapped around the biosynthetic pathways of secondary metabolites. Our main text illustrates this focus. Intertwined in this will be a brief look at primary metabolism and neurochemistry. Some time will be spent on metabolism of drugs and to the best of our ability and current scientific knowledge we will try to provide a rationale for the physiological properties of the many interesting secondary metabolites we encounter.

We will use primary literature, group and individual talks, short papers and a term paper and several take-home assignments to ensure participation and learning. Additional areas of discussion will include poisons, phantasticea, pharmaceutical and herbal medicinals, shamanism and plant-insect interactions.