Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel cyclopropapyrroloindole(CPI) derivatives bearing methoxycarbonyl and trifluoromethyl groups

The title synthesis was achieved by employing oxidative cyclization of the enaminoester as a key step. Some of these novel 3-methoxycarbonyl-2-trifluoromethylcyclopropapyrroloindole (MCTFCPI) derivatives, dl-10c,d, (+)-10d, and (S)-21b were found to exhibit antitumor activity against murine leukemia and murine solid tumors more prominent than that of the known CPI derivatives dl-4 and the clinical trial candidates 5 and 7.