Lignans are aromatic compounds isolated from plants. This handbook presents an authoritative and comprehensive review of lignan chemistry, biochemistry, nomenclature, uses, and occurrence. Lignans are used in a wide variety of industries and this book will appeal to those working in the pulp and paper industries, renewable energy, specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, flavors and fragrances, agriculture and forestry, evolution and ecology.

Additionally, the book features a comprehensive lignans dictionary section, drawn from the prestigious Dictionary of Natural Products. Other features include:

• Presents a comprehensive and up-to-date account of this important group of natural products
• Addresses and resolves problems in current lignan nomenclature
• Edited by the leaders in the field of lignan chemistry and biochemistry

Norman G. Lewis currently holds positions of Regents Professor and Eisig-Tode Distinguished Professor, Institute of Biological Chemistry, at Washington State University. He is Regional Editor of Phytochemistry. He has received numerous forms of recognition including: election to Corresponding Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, FRSE, Scotland's National Academy of Science and Letters; Fellow of the American Society for Plant Biologists (ASPB); Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Life Member of the Phytochemical Society for North America (PSNA), and Fellow, International Academy of Wood Science (IAWS). He also holds a Fulbright Distinguished Professor Fellowship (Science without Borders) to Brazil for 2014/2015. He has held many leadership positions in various learned societies, such as President of the American Society of Gravitational and Space Biology (ASGSB) and President, PSNA, as well as responsibilities/offices with the American Chemical Society and other professional organizations. He serves on several editorial boards, federal and international grant review panels, and scientific advisory boards worldwide.

Chapter 01

Redefining Lignan and Neolignan Skeleta Nomenclature with Dirigent Protein Discovery: a Historical Perspective

Chapter 02

The Occurrence and Diversity of Potential "Lignan Building Blocks" in Nature

Chapter 03

Monomeric Phenylpropanoid (C6C3) and Lignan (C6C3 Dimeric) Natural Products in Plants, Bacteria, Fungi and Animals: Structural Diversity and Chemotaxonomy

Chapter 04

Dirigent Protein Roadmap to Lignans and Other Vascular Plant Phenol Classes

Chapter 05

8-8'-Lignan Biosynthesis Roadmap

Chapter 06

8-2'-, 8-3'- (8-5'-) and 8-O-4'-Linked Lignan Biosynthesis Roadmap

Chapter 07

Allyl/Propenyl Phenol Biosynthesis and C9/C9' Deoxygenation Roadmap

Chapter 08

8-8'- and 8-7'-Nor-lignan Biosynthesis Roadmap

Chapter 09

Roadmap to "Mixed Biochemical Pathway" Lignans

Chapter 10

Oligomeric Lignan Diversity in Planta: A Biochemical Roadmap for the Future

Chapter 11

Lignan Chirality Roadmap: A Scientific Art in Danger of Being Lost?