Ceric ammonium nitrate-promoted oxidative coupling reaction for the synthesis and evaluation of a series of anti-tumor amide anhydrovinblastine analogs

Modifications on the basic skeletons of vinblastine and vincristine

The synthetic investigation of biologically active natural compounds serves two main purposes: (i) the total synthesis of alkaloids and their analogues; (ii) modification of the structures for producing more selective, more effective, or less toxic derivatives. In the chemistry of dimeric Vinca alkaloids enormous efforts have been directed towards synthesizing new derivatives of the antitumor agents vinblastine and vincristine so as to obtain novel compounds with improved therapeutic properties.