A set of 16 new simplified analogues of acetogenins has been designed based
on: (i) the replacement of the bis THF moiety of these natural products by
an ethylene glycol bis ether unit; (ii) the introduction of different lipo
philic side chains (alkyl, aryl, dialkylamino, O-cholesteryl); (iii) the pr
esence of the same terminal isolactone. In vitro cytotoxic activity against
L1210 leukemia is reported. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese
rved.