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DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1075217
Anticancer and Antimalarial Dihydroartemisinin Dimer Oximes
The natural product artemisinin (1), a sesquiterpene endoperoxide first isolated in 1971 from the Chinese plant Artemisia annua [1], has cytotoxic effects against EN-2 tumor cells [2], P-388, A549, HT-29, MCF-7 and KB-tumor cells [3]. In an attempt to develop new chemotherapeutic agents, dihydroartemisinin (DHA) dimer oximes were prepared by condensation of DHA (2) with dihydroxy-acetone to afford 3, followed by conversion into the dimer oximes (4–7). These oximes showed anticancer [4], and anti-malarial activity. Synthesis, spectroscopic data and in vitro biological activity of these compounds are presented. References: [1] Coordinating Group for Research on the Structure of Qing Hau Sau: A new type of sesquiterpene lactone (1977) Kexue Tongbao, 22: 142. Chemical Abstracts (1977) 87: 98788 g. [2] Beekman AC, et al. (1997) Journal of Natural Products 60: 325–330. [3] Zheng GQ (1994) Planta Medica, 60: 54–57. [4] ElSohly MA, Gul W, International Publication # WO 2006002105 A1.