Antitumoural compounds of general formula (I); wherein Ar is an heterocyclic group of formula (a) and R
1
, R
2
, R
3
, R4, R
5
, R
6
, R
7
, n and the dotted line take permitted meanings can be obtained from a tunicate of the family Polyclinidae, genus
Aplidium
, species
cyaneum
, and the invention further provides derivatives thereof.
Total Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity Screening of (±)-Aplicyanins A, B and E and Related Analogues
The first totalsynthesis of the indole alkaloids (±)-aplicyanins A, B, and E, plus 17 analogues, all in racemic form, is reported. Modifications to the parent compound included changing the number of bromine substituents on the indole, the nature of the substituents on the indole nitrogen (H, Me, or OMe), and/or the oxidation level of the heterocyclic core tetrahydropyrimidine. Each compound was screened