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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Functionalized Spirocyclic Heterocycle Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Assay
Published on: February 9, 2021
Norcantharimides, synthesis and anticancer activity: Synthesis of new norcantharidin analogues and their anticancer
Timothy A Hill1, Scott G Stewart, Stephen P Ackland
1Chemistry, Chemistry Building, The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
Abstract:
A range of amines was reacted with norcantharidin (2) to provide the corresponding norcantharimides (9-43). Treatment of norcantharidin with allylamine afforded the corresponding allyl-norcantharimide (20) which was amenable to epoxidation (mCPBA, 22) and subsequent ring opening (MeOH/H(+); 23) or alternatively, osmylation (OsO(4)/NMO; 24). These simple synthetic modifications of 2 facilitated the development of a novel series of norcantharimides displaying modest to good broad spectrum cytotoxicity against HT29 and SW480 (colorectal carcinoma); MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma); A2780 (ovarian carcinoma); H460 (lung carcinoma); A431 (epidermoid carcinoma); DU145 (prostate carcinoma); BE2-C (neuroblastoma); and SJ-G2 (glioblastoma). Analogues possessing a C(10), C(12) or C(14) alkyl chain or a C(12) linked bis-norcantharimide displayed the highest levels of cytotoxicity.
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