The first edition of this book appeared in 1984 and covered the literature until the end of 1982 (one chapter dealt with much of 1983). The present volume is based on the literature published since then until approximately mid-1992. As before, it attempts to highlight the most important advances in all the main areas of natural products research, focusing on structure, chemistry, synthesis, and this time, where appropriate, biosynthesis. Each chapter is necessarily selective but the scope is extended by frequent citation of recent reviews. R. H. T. Contributors Dr C. Bladon Interprobe Chemical Services, Gallowhill House, Larch Avenue, Lenzie, Glasgow G66 4HX, UK Dr M. Gill University ofMelbourne, School ofChemistry, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia Dr K. J. Hale University College London, Chemistry Department, Christopher Ingold Laboratories, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H OAJ, UK Dr R. A. Hill Chemistry Department, University of Glas­ gow, Glasgow G12800, UK DrJ. B. Hobbs University of British Columbia, Nucleic Acid­ Protein Service Unit, c/o Biotechnology Lab­ oratory, Room 237, Westbrook Building, 6174 University Boulevard, Vancouver BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada Dr D. R. Kelly University of Wales College of Cardiff, School of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, PO Box 912, Cardiff CF1 3TB, UK DrJ. Leonard Department of Chemistry and Applied Chem­ istry, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK Dr L. R. Milgrom Department of Chemistry, BruneI University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK Ms F. O'Neill Department of Chemistry, Brunei University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK Dr A.