Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxicity of lipidic alcohols and amines.

General methods for the conversion of unsaturated fatty acids into alcohols and amines and the preparation of lipidic 1,2-diamines were developed. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the synthetic lipidic compounds was tested against two different cell lines (P388 and NSCLCN6). Oleyl amine was the most active among the lipidic alcohols and monoamines. However, the saturated lipidic 1,2-hexadecanediamine exhibited the highest cytotoxicity (IC50 0.1 microgram/ml and 1.1 micrograms/ml).