10-Deacetyl Baccatin III or 10-DAB III is a crucial intermediate for Paclitaxel & Docitaxel, two of the best anti-cancer drugs ever invented. Natural Paclitaxel was once isolated in very small quantities from the Yew tree (Taxus species) resulting in the large-scale destruction of its natural habitat. By extracting the pre-cursor 10-DAB III in large quantites from the Taxus baccata leaf, many subsequent semi-syntheses can be carried out. The esterification of 10-DAB III also causes an enhancement in the kinetics, and therefore the pharmacological profile of these important chemo-therapeutic agents.