Aim: To find new anticancer drug based on the structure of podophyllotoxin.
Methods and results: 4-Deoxy-4-beta-arylmethylenesulfonylamido-4'- demethylpodophyllotoxins were (1-15) synthesized and their antitumour activities against KB cells and L1210 leukemia cells were tested.
Conclusion: These compounds are new compounds. Among them, compounds 2, 3, 8, 9, 11 and 12 showed antitumour activities. When halides exist on the aryl ring of substituted sulfonyl group, the corresponding compound has relatively higher activities. The stereo factor is important for the activities.