Recent advances in the total synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant diterpenes

A detailed overview is presented of recent total synthesis approaches to four different diterpenoids--the ginkgolides, tonantzitlolone, ingenol and eleutherobin. Due to their structural complexity, all pose major challenges for total synthesis, guaranteeing diverse strategic tours de force and a rich synthetic chemistry. Additionally, all four diterpenoids are of major relevance because of their biological (target) or pharmaceutical properties.