4-Aza-2,3-dehydro-4-deoxypodophyllotoxin analogues 3a-n were synthesized through quinolines 2a-n. Comparison of their cytotoxicity against P-388 leukemia cells revealed that the steric effects of the ring B substituents on the activity are greater than the electronic effects, while the presence of a methoxy group on the ring E is not essential to exhibit potent cytotoxicity. Analogues 3a and 3b proved to be more than twice as cytotoxic as natural podophyllotoxin (1). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
tetronic acid (2) or 1,3-cyclopentanedione (3) produced anilinolactones 4a-d and anilinocyclopentenone 5a, respectively, which were then condensed with benzaldehydes to yield 4-aza-1-arylnaphthalene lignan analogs 6–19.
4-Aza-2,3-dehydro-4-deoxypodophyllotoxin analogues 3a-n were synthesized through quinolines 2a-n. Comparison of their cytotoxicity against P-388 leukemia cells revealed that the steric effects of the ring B substituents on the activity are greater than the electronic effects, while the presence of a methoxy group on the ring E is not essential to exhibit potent cytotoxicity. Analogues 3a and 3b proved to be more than twice as cytotoxic as natural podophyllotoxin (1). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.