Synthesis of a new cytotoxic cephalostatin/ritterazine analogue from hecogenin and 22-epi-hippuristanol Original Research Article

A new cephalostatin/ritterazine analogue was prepared from the commercially available hecogenin acetate and the natural cytotoxic steroid 22-epi-hippuristanol. The method involved the reductive dimerization of enaminoketones (condensation of α-aminoketones) and condensation between an enaminoketone and an α-hydroxyketone. The new analogue showed higher cytotoxic activity than the cytotoxic 22-epi-hippuristanol against MDA-MB-231, A-549 and HT-29 cultured tumor cell lines.