Regioselectivity of the Diels-Alder reactions of 2,5,8(1H)-quinolinetriones

Structure-Antitumor Activity Relationships of Aza- and Diaza-Anthracene-2,9,10-Triones and Their Partially Saturated Derivatives

The 1,8-Diazaanthracene-2,9,10-triones, their 5,8-dihydro derivatives, and 1,8-diazaanthracene-2,7,9,10-tetraones, structurally related to the diazaquinomycin family of natural products, were synthesized in a regioselective fashion employing Diels-Alder strategies. These libraries were studied for their cytotoxicity in a variety of human cancer cell lines in order to establish structure-activity relationships. From the results obtained, we conclude that some representatives of the 1,8-diazaanthracene-2,9,10-trione framework show potent and selective cytotoxicity against solid tumors. Similar findings were made for the related 1-azaanthracene-2,9,10-trione derivatives, structurally similar to the marcanine natural products, which showed improved activity over their natural counterparts. An enantioselective protocol based on the use of a SAMP-related chiral auxiliary derived was developed for the case of chiral 5-substituted 1,8-diazaanthracene-2,9,10-triones, and showed that their cytotoxicity was not enantiospecific.

Synthesis of casimiroin and optimization of its quinone reductase 2 and aromatase inhibitory activities

An efficient method has been developed to synthesize casimiroin (1), a component of the edible fruit of Casimiroa edulis, on a multigram scale in good overall yield. The route was versatile enough to provide an array of compound 1 analogues that were evaluated as QR2 and aromatase inhibitors. In addition, X-ray crystallography studies of QR2 in complex with compound 1 and one of its more potent analogues has provided insight into the mechanism of action of this new series of QR2 inhibitors. The initial biological investigations suggest that compound 1 and its analogues merit further investigation as potential chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents.

Synthesis of kalasinamide, a putative plant defense phototoxin

The first total synthesis of the azaanthracene kalasinamide (1) is described, and the discrepancy in the reported (13)C NMR data and melting points for the natural product from two different sources is resolved. Kalasinamide is prone to autosensitized photooxidation, in solution and in the solid state, to give the corresponding quinone, marcanine A (8). This transformation may be representative of a novel and more general step in the biosynthesis of (aza)anthraquinones. Through its ability to generate toxic singlet oxygen, kalasinamide may serve a protective role, defending the plant against predation and the invasion of microbial pathogens, following mechanical insult.

Cytotoxic constituents of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula

A new halimane diterpene, 3beta,5beta, 16alpha-trihydroxyhalima-13(14)-en-15,16-olide (1), and a new oxoprotoberberine alkaloid, (-)-8-oxopolyalthiaine (2), along with 20 known compounds, were isolated from a methanolic extract of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were established by spectroscopic analysis. Several of these compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity toward a small panel of human cell lines.