The synthesis of amoamine B (4), which inhibits the catalytic activity of topoisomerase 11 and exhibits selective cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines, was achieved in four steps from 4-bromo-8-methoxy-6-methyl-5-nitroquinoline (6). The related compounds 11 similar to 14 were also synthesized, and the antimicrobial activities of 4 and its seven related compounds 6, 8, 9, and 11 similar to 14 were investigated.
The synthesis of arnoamine B (2), which inhibits the catalytic activity of topoisomerase II and exhibits selective cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines, was achieved in six steps from 5-methoxy-6-nitroindole (3) in 33 % overall yield.