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Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
Asymmetric Entry into 10b-aza-Analogues of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids Reveals a Pronounced Electronic Effect on
Carla E Brown1, Tiffany Kong1, James F Britten1
1Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada.
Abstract:
Development of a chiral pool-based synthesis of 10b-aza-analogues of biologically active Amaryllidaceae alkaloids is described, involving a concise reductive amination and condensation sequence, leading to ring-B/C-modified, fully functionalized ring-C derivatives. Differentiated anticancer and antiviral activities of these analogues are presented. Despite complete conformational and functional group overlap, the 10b-aza-analogues have diminished anticancer activity and no antiviral activity. These unprecedented electronic effects suggest a possible role for π-type secondary orbital interactions with the biological target.
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