Modifications on the Basic Skeletons of Vinblastine and Vincristine

Abstract

The synthetic investigation of biologically active natural compounds serves two main purposes: (<em>i</em>) the total synthesis of alkaloids and their analogues; (<em>ii</em>) modification of the structures for producing more selective, more effective, or less toxic derivatives. In the chemistry of dimeric <em>Vinca</em> alkaloids enormous efforts have been directed towards synthesizing new derivatives of the antitumor agents vinblastine and vincristine so as to obtain novel compounds with improved therapeutic properties.

Keywords

• antitumor therapy
• vinblastine
• vincristine
• derivatives