First Total Synthesis of Protoapigenone and Its Analogues as Potent Cytotoxic Agents

Abstract

Protoapigenone (1), isolated from Thelypteris torresiana, previously showed significant cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines. In a continued structure-activity relationship study, the first total synthesis and modification of 1 were achieved. All synthesized compounds and related intermediates were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines, HepG2, Hep3B, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and A549. Among them, 24 showed 2.2-14.2-fold greater cytotoxicity than 1 and naphthyl A-ring analogues remarkably enhanced the activity.