Abstract:
Twenty three 4-(2-amido-2-ethoxycarbonyl) ethylsulfenyl-4-deoxy-4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin analogues were synthesized by three steps, in which trifluoroacetic acid was used as a condensation agent of 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin with
L-cysteine ethyl ester hydrochloride without any protection of phenolic hydroxy and amino groups. All compounds were screened
in vitro against L
1210 leukemia and KB cells, in which, compounds 11, 16 and 18 exhibited more potent antitumor activity than etoposide.