Synthesis and cytotoxicity on human leukemia cells of furonaphthoquinones isolated from tabebuia plants

Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2013;61(6):670-3. doi: 10.1248/cpb.c13-00011.

Abstract

Furonaphthoquinones are promising skeletons for anticancer drug molecules. In particular, methoxylated furonaphthoquinones are characteristic constituents of Tabebuia plants. In this research, we synthesized the furonaphthoquinones by effective one-pot cascade reactions of 3-phenyliodonio-1,2,4-trioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalenides with 3-butyn-2-ol in the presence of palladium and cuprous catalysts via Sonogashira coupling and intramolecular cyclization. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the synthetic furonaphthoquinones showed moderate cytotoxicity against human leukemia U937 and HL-60 cells. Our work highlights the importance of furonaphthoquinones as antileukemic agents.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / toxicity
  • Catalysis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Copper / chemistry
  • Cyclization
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / drug therapy
  • Naphthoquinones / chemistry*
  • Naphthoquinones / therapeutic use
  • Naphthoquinones / toxicity
  • Palladium / chemistry
  • Tabebuia / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Naphthoquinones
  • cuprous ion
  • Palladium
  • Copper