Book excerpt: Imides: Medicinal, Agricultural, Synthetic Applications and Natural Products Chemistry provides a comprehensive overview of imides being developed as pharmaceuticals or experimental therapeutics. Featuring a diverse range of experts in the field of imides, each chapter reviews the state-of-the-art, including the isolation and identification of naturally-occurring imides, as well as the total synthesis of imide natural products. As there is a need for a comprehensive review of imides as a class of naturally-occurring, biologically active molecules, this book will be invaluable to those in pharmaceuticals, academia, and anyone looking for clinical applications. - Features cutting-edge research in the field of imides for pharmaceutical and experimental therapeutic applications - Includes coverage of naturally occurring imides, along with medicinal chemistry-inspired imides - Focuses on the presentation of selected targets for their complex multistep synthesis - Discusses new reagents and strategies for synthesis - Includes contributions from leading experts in the field of imide research, working in both natural product chemistry and medicinal chemistry