Synthesis and cytotoxicity of (+/-)-7,9-dideoxy-pancratistatin analogues.

Access to some 7,9-dideoxy analogues of pancratistatin was achieved by combining our previously reported nitroenal/dioxanone annulation (to form ring C) with a hetero-Diels-Alder/aromatization path to build the dihydroisoquinolinone subunit (rings A and B); testing of their antiproliferative activity afforded some clues about the role of aromatic substituents in pancratistatin's pharmacophore.