Synthesis and conformational preference of novel 8-fluoroanthracyclines

Analogues of daunorubicin possessing a fluorine atom at position C(8) of ring A have been synthesized with the aim of comparing their DNA-drug interaction and antitumour properties with those of the clinically useful anthracyclines doxorubicin and idarubicin. The synthesis of (8S)-8-fluoro-4-demethoxydaunorubicin, 1, is reported and molecular mechanics and NMR studies which guided towards the synthesis of the epimeric (8R)-8-fluoro-4-demethoxydaunorubicin, 2, are discussed. Both compounds were prepared by divergent routes starting from the common intermediate, 6, obtained via the Diels-Alder cyclisation between quinizarin diquinone, 3, and 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-1,3-butadiene, 4. The synthesis of the (8S)-fluoroepimer proceeded via epoxidation of the C(8)-C(9) olefinic bond of 6, oxidation, oxirane cleavage by BF3.Et2O to give the fluorohydroxyketone, 9, followed by the introduction of the hydroxyl moiety at C(7) and glycosylation. Conversely, the synthesis of the (8R)-fluoroepimer involved the fluorobromination of the C(8)-C(9) olefinic bond of 6, formation of the C(9)-C(13) epoxide, 20 which, after regioselective hydrolysis and oxidation of the resulting fluorodiol to the epimeric fluorohydroxyketone, 21, similarly gave the desired fluoroaglycone, 25 and, hence, the corresponding glycoside, 2. The cytotoxic properties of the two 8-fluoroanthracycline analogues, 1 and 2, were markedly affected by the stereochemistry of the fluorine substituent.