The account is very helpful in bringing readers' attention to one of the most impressive achievements of chemists in recent years. It is, however, misleading in two aspects. First, the article failed to point out the actual research team that accomplished the first total synthesis of taxol. Second, it didn't mention the fact that two research groups, working independently of each other, have achieved the first two syntheses of taxol at almost the same time. The legend to the picture reads: "K.C. Nicolaou's research group reported the first completely chemical synthesis of taxol." This gives readers an incorrect impression that Nicolaou's team was in first place in the heated race for the synthesis of taxol.
According to Chemical & Engineering News (Feb. 21, 1994, page 32), the official mouthpiece of the chemistry community, it is chemistry professor R.A. Holton and his coworkers at Florida State University, Tallahassee, who first achieved ...
