Semisynthesis

Under a partial synthesis, and semi-synthesis, is understood in the organic chemistry, either the synthesis of an intermediate product, which results in a previously known synthetic route to a target compound or the conversion of a complex compound, usually a natural material - isolated from natural material ( for example, bacteria, fungi, plants, or cell cultures ) - a starting material ( raw material) are used in a target compound. These natural biomolecules often have a complex molecular structure. Such complex structures are totally synthetic, starting or only with considerable effort and many synthetic steps accessible from inexpensive mostly petrochemical starting materials.

Semi Synthetic materials produced meet or surpass the natural product with regard to efficacy, safety or stability, such as in the manufacture of drugs. So naturally occurring cephalosporins are too weak antibiotic activity, by enzymatic hydrolysis is therefore made ​​of cephalosporin C 7- aminocephalosporanic, the more effective antibiotics Cefaloridin, cephalothin, and Cefaflexin Cefrodin be made ​​of the then by partial synthesis ( acylation of the amino function ).