Lignans, diversity, biosynthesis, and

Lewis NG, Kato MJ, Lopes N, Davin LB. Lignans diversity, biosynthesis, and function. In Seidl PR, Gottlieb OR, Kaplan MAC, eds. Chemistry of the Amazon. Washington, DC American Chemical Society 1995 135—167. 

Suzuki, S. (2002) Stereochemical diversity in lignan biosynthesis and establishment of norlignan biosynthetic pathway. Wood Res., 89, 52-60. 

Lignans represent an extremely diverse group of compounds. This is the result of both structural diversity and stereo-selective biosynthesis. One particular plant species generally makes only one enantiomer of a particular compound. The other enantiomer may be synthesized by a different species. As a consequence, it is virtually impossible to summarize the biosynthesis of lignans in general. Instead, the focus here will be on the biosynthesis of the lignan podophyllotoxin in a number of different plant species, as an illustration of the different biosynthetic routes that can be used to synthesize the same compound. 

Umezawa, T., Okunishi, T. and Shimada, M. (1997) Stereochemical diversity in lignan biosynthesis. Wood Res., 84, 62-75. 

Wallis, A. R A. (1998) Structural diversity in lignans and neolignans. In Lewis, N. G., and Sarkanen, S. (eds). Lignin and Lignan Biosynthesis, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC. 

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