Qinghaosu structure determination

The isolation and structural determination of the naturally occurring potent antimalar-ial sesquiterpene endoperoxides, artemisinin (qinghaosu) (6)28-31.439 recogni-... 

The success in determining the chemical structure of qinghaosu is only one example of the accomplishments of chemists in attaining a better understanding of the relationship between the chemical structure of natural drugs and their pharmacological effects. Those accomplishments have formed the basis of a whole new phase of the pharmaceutical industry in which natural products and their derivatives provide an extensive source of new drugs. 

Study on the reactions of qinghaosu is heuristic, not only for determination of its structure, but also especially for understanding chemical properties and hence for the modification and utilization of the qinghaosu molecule to develop a new medicinal apphcation. Among them, reduction and acidic degradation have been paid the most attention and have received more practical application. 

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