[Synthesis of epipodophyllotoxin carboxylates and antitumor activity in vitro]

A series of epipodophyllotoxin carboxylates were prepared from podophyllotoxin by reacting with organic acids under the catalysis of BF3.Et2O. All these products were characterized through IR, 1HNMR, MS and elemental analysis. These compounds showed significant antitumor activities against mouse leukemia P388 and human stomach cancer SGC-7901 in pharmacological tests in vitro.