Semisynthesis and Cytotoxicity of Styryl-Lactone Derivatives

Abstract
The cytotoxicity and the cell-cycle action of altholactone (1), goniofufurone (2), and eight altholactone derivatives (5−12), were determined in vitro on L-1210 cells. Semisyntheses and structure−activity relationships of these compounds are described. The results of this study suggest that the cytotoxicity of altholactone (1), 11-nitro-altholactone (8), and 7-chloro-6,7-dihydroaltholactone (10) is due to the accumulation of the cells in the G2 + M phase of the cell cycle.