Various people in Agrabah have been dying from an unknown disease that has been named "cancer". The Sultan is afraid of contracting this disease and so has asked Aladdin and his trusty advisor, Jafar, for help. Aladdin uses one wish to learn that Taxol is the solution to this problem. Terpenes have long been plants that helped the Arabs with its fragrances, flavors, medicine, and even poison. While Taxol has been used in Agrabah before, unfortunately, the reactants that had been used to make it in the past have long since been depleted. Whatever are our heroes to do?!? A new way of making Taxol must be found!

Unsure of how to go about this problem, Aladdin summons the Genie for help. Aladdin uses his second wish in order to learn a new mechanism for Taxol... luckily for Aladdin, only two new starting steps were necessary!

Saving his last wish, Aladdin is desperate to learn the procedure for these two new steps. Aladdin unwillingly seeks the help of Jafar. The two realize that they must work together in order to solve this grave problem. Jafar curtly suggests the Cave of Wonder. Inspired, the new dynamic duo then calls for Magic Carpet, Iago, and Abu who bravely venture into this dark cavern. A few hours later, Abu and Iago come back triumphantly with the scroll explaining the procedure necessary for these novel mechanisms.

Finally, the third wish is then used to magically summon all of the equipment and reactants needed for experimentation! Aladdin employs the help of the palace scholars and scientists in the new and improved production of Taxol. While the palace scholars are busy at work, the scientists, eager to experiment on these new molecules, run NMRs to classify them. After a short while, Taxol is created! Cautious to never again be depleted of Taxol, the scholars and scientists research new ways to create dienone 11.

Aladdin and Jafar learned a precious lesson that day, that without each other, they could not have succeeded in this heroic effort. While they may never be friends, they certainly are not frenemies anymore. Peace has now returned to the majestic city of Agrabah...

To follow Aladdin and his friends on their adventure, explore the website!

Mendoza, A.; Ishihara, Y.; Baran, P. S. Nature Chem. 2011, 4, 21-25.

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