Synthesis of rutaecarpine and cytotoxic analogues

Analogues of rutaecarpine, a quinazolinocarboline alkaloid, were synthesized by structurally modifying the A-ring to yield 10-methoxy (11b), 11-methoxy (11c), and 10,11-methylenedioxy (11d) derivatives. Analogues 11c,d displayed activity superior to rutaecarpine when evaluated against several tumor cell lines in vitro.