A series of hybrid molecules (14-16) combining certain structural feat
ures of both 4-quinolone antimicrobial inhibitors of DNA gyrase and an
thracycline inhibitors of mammalian topoisomerase II were prepared syn
thetically in six chemical steps from digiferrol dimethyl ether(3). Th
e resulting hybrids were, unfortunately, inactive against both bacteri
a and mammalian cells as well as purified topoisomerases at doses wher
e ciprofloxacin and doxorubicin are highly active. (C) 1997 Elsevier S
cience Ltd.