New chemical and biological aspects of artemisinin-Derived trioxane dimers Original Research Article

Joining two 10-deoxoartemisinin trioxane units via a p-diacetylbenzene linker produces new C-10 non-acetal dimers and . 1H NMR spectroscopy allows unambiguous assignment of the stereochemistry at C-10 in these dimers. Successful replacement of both carbonyl oxygen atoms in these diketone dimers by fluorine atoms produces new tetrafluorinated dimers and . Each dimer was evaluated in vitro for antimalarial, antiproliferative, and antitumor activities; ketone dimers and , more than fluorinated dimers and , are promising for chemotherapy of both malaria and cancer.