Structural studies of cytotoxic marine alkaloids: Synthesis of novel ring-E analogues of ascididemin and their in vitro and in vivo biological evaluation

The cytotoxic marine alkaloid ascididemin and various pyridine ring-E analo gues have been synthesised in an attempt to determine the pharmaceutical ut ility and structure-activity requirements for the parent alkaloid. All comp ounds synthesised were evaluated in a wide range of biological screens for selective cytotoxicity, antiviral, antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Many analogues exhibited selective cytotoxicity to human solid tumour cell -lines in vitro, with one also exhibiting moderate antitumour activity in i n vivo xenograft assays. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .