Editing Elias James Corey (section)

===Total syntheses===
E. J. Corey and his research group have completed many [[total synthesis|total syntheses]]. At least 265 natural compounds have been synthesized in the Corey group since 1950.<ref>See the Syntheses tab{{cite news
  | title = Compiled Works of Elias J. Corey
  | publisher = ejcorey.org
  | date = July 12, 2008
  | url = http://ejcorey.org/corey/syntheses/syntheses.php
  | access-date = November 15, 2013}}
</ref>

His 1969 total syntheses of several [[prostaglandin]]s are considered classics.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Corey | first1 = E. J. | last2 = Weinshenker | first2 = N. M. | last3 = Schaaf | first3 = T. K. | last4 = Huber | first4 = W. | year = 1969 | title   =Stereo-controlled synthesis of dl-prostaglandins F2.alpha. and E2| journal = [[J. Am. Chem. Soc.]] | volume = 91 | issue = 20| pages = 5675–5677 | doi = 10.1021/ja01048a062 | pmid=5808505| bibcode = 1969JAChS..91.5675C }}</ref><ref>[[K. C. Nicolaou]], E. J. Sorensen, ''Classics in Total Synthesis'', VCH, New York, 1996, {{ISBN|3-527-29231-4}}.</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author1=Corey, E. J. |author2=Schaaf, T. K. |author3=Huber, W. |author4=Koelliker,V. |author5=Weinshenker, N. M. |title=Total Synthesis of Prostaglandins F<sub>2α</sub> and E<sub>2</sub> as the Naturally Occurring Forms|journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society|volume=92|issue=2|pages=397–8|doi=10.1021/ja00705a609|pmid=5411057|year=1970}}</ref><ref>For a review see Axen, U.; Pike, J. E.; and Schneider, W. P. (1973) p. 81 in ''The Total Synthesis of Natural Products'', Vol. 1, ApSimon, J. W. (ed.) Wiley, New York.</ref> Specifically the synthesis of Prostaglandin F<sub>2α</sub> presents several challenges. The presence of both ''cis'' and ''trans'' olefins as well as five asymmetric carbon atoms renders the molecule a desirable challenge for organic chemists. Corey's retrosynthetic analysis outlines a few key disconnections that lead to simplified precursors (scheme 23). 
[[File:Prostaglandin retro23.png|600px|center]]
Molecular simplification began first by disconnecting both carbon chains with a Wittig reaction and Horner-Wadsworth Emmons modification. The Wittig reaction affords the ''cis'' product, while the Horner-Wadsworth Emmons produces the ''trans'' olefin. The published synthesis reveals a 1:1 diastereomeric mixture of the carbonyl reduction using zinc borohydride. However, years later Corey and co-workers established the CBS reduction. One of the examples that exemplified this protocol was an intermediate in the prostaglandin synthesis revealing a 9:1 mixture of the desired diastereomer (scheme 24).<ref name="ReferenceA"/> 
[[File:Prostoglandin CBS24.png|500px|center]]
The iodolactonization transform affords an allylic alcohol leading to a key Baeyer-Villiger intermediate. This oxidation regioselectively inserts an oxygen atom between the ketone and the most electron-rich site. The pivotal intermediate leads to a straightforward conversion to the Diels-Alder structural goal, which provides the carbon framework for the functionalized cyclopentane ring. Later Corey developed an asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction employing a chiral oxazoborolidine, greatly simplifying the synthetic route to the prostaglandins.

Other notable syntheses: 
* [[Longifolene]]<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Corey | first1 = E. J. | last2 = Ohno | first2 = M. | last3 = Vatakencherry | first3 = P. A. | last4 = Mitra | first4 = R. B. | year = 1961 | title   =TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF d,l-LONGIFOLENE| journal = [[J. Am. Chem. Soc.]] | volume = 83 | issue = 5| pages = 1251–1253 | doi = 10.1021/ja01466a056 | bibcode = 1961JAChS..83.1251C }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Corey | first1 = E. J. | last2 = Ohno | first2 = M. | last3 = Mitra | first3 = R. B. | last4 = Vatakencherry | first4 = P. A. | year = 1964 | title = Total Synthesis of Longifolene | journal = [[J. Am. Chem. Soc.]] | volume = 86 | issue = 3| pages = 478–485 | doi = 10.1021/ja01057a039 | bibcode = 1964JAChS..86..478C }}</ref>
* [[Ginkgolide]]s A<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Corey | first1 = E. J. | last2 = Ghosh | first2 = A. K. | year = 1988 | title   =Total synthesis of ginkgolide a| journal = [[Tetrahedron Lett.]] | volume = 29 | issue = 26| pages = 3205–3206 | doi=10.1016/0040-4039(88)85122-0| pmc = 6781876 | pmid = 31595095 }}</ref> and B<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Corey | first1 = E. J. | last2 = Kang | first2 = M. | last3 = Desai | first3 = M. C. | last4 = Ghosh | first4 = A. K. | last5 = Houpis | first5 = I. N. | year = 1988 | title   =Total synthesis of (.+-.)-ginkgolide B| journal = [[J. Am. Chem. Soc.]] | volume = 110 | issue = 2| pages = 649–651 | doi=10.1021/ja00210a083| pmid = 31527923 | pmc = 6746322 | bibcode = 1988JAChS.110..649C }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Corey | first1 = E. J. | year = 1988 | title   =Robert Robinson Lecture. Retrosynthetic thinking?essentials and examples| journal = [[Chem. Soc. Rev.]] | volume = 17 | pages = 111–133 | doi=10.1039/cs9881700111}}</ref>
* [[Lactacystin]]<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Corey | first1 = E. J. | last2 = Reichard | first2 = G. A. | year = 1992 | title = Total Synthesis of Lactacystin | journal = [[J. Am. Chem. Soc.]] | volume = 114 | issue = 26| pages = 10677–10678 | doi=10.1021/ja00052a096| bibcode = 1992JAChS.11410677C }}</ref>
* [[Miroestrol]]<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Corey | first1 = E. J. | last2 = Wu | first2 = L. I. | year = 1993 | title = Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Miroestrol | journal = [[J. Am. Chem. Soc.]] | volume = 115 | issue = 20| pages = 9327–9328 | doi=10.1021/ja00073a074| bibcode = 1993JAChS.115.9327C }}</ref>
* [[Ecteinascidin 743]]<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Corey | first1 = E. J. | last2 = Gin | first2 = D. Y. | last3 = Kania | first3 = R. S. | year = 1996 | title   =Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Ecteinascidin 743| journal = [[J. Am. Chem. Soc.]] | volume = 118 | issue = 38| pages = 9202–9203 | doi=10.1021/ja962480t| bibcode = 1996JAChS.118.9202C }}</ref>
* [[Salinosporamide A]]<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Reddy Leleti | first1 = Rajender | last2 = Corey | first2 = E. J. | year = 2004 | title = A Simple Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Salinosporamide A| journal = [[J. Am. Chem. Soc.]] | volume = 126| issue = 20| pages = 6230–6232 | doi = 10.1021/ja048613p | pmid = 15149210| bibcode = 2004JAChS.126.6230R | citeseerx = 10.1.1.472.2554 }}</ref>