Oxidizing mechanism of podophyllotoxin and its derivatives by sodium persulfate

The oxidizing mechanism of podophyllotoxin and its derivatives by sodium persulfate has been studied by laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis. The formation and decay processes of transient species of podophyllotoxin and its derivatives have been observed, and a series of rate constants for the formation and decay of transient species have been determined. It has been found that there is a light (UV) sensitive group on the C-4 of podophyllotoxin and two light (UV) sensitive groups on the C-4 and C-4' of 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin.     

Total synthesis of podophyllotoxin and select analog designs via C–H activation

An account of our previously disclosed total synthesis of the aryltetralin lignan natural product podophyllotoxin, a building block used in the synthesis of the FDA-approved anticancer drug etoposide, is disclosed. A C–H activation disconnection was viewed as being amenable to the preparation of E-ring modified analogs but proved challenging to execute. Various insights into palladium-catalyzed C–H arylation reactions on complex scaffolds are reported ultimately leading to the implementation of this strategy and the synthesis of compounds inaccessible by semisynthetic means.     

Laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis study on chemical activity of VP-16 and podophyllotoxin

Time-resolved laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis have been used to study the chemical activity of podophyllotoxin(PPT) and etoposide(VP-16). The mechanism of photoioniza-tion of etoposide and podophyllotoxin has been confirmed and illustrated. It is demonstrated that VP-16 and PPT in aqueous solution can be photoionized at 248 nm to give hydrated electron and neutral radical resulting from rapid deprotonation of radical cation of VP-16 and PPT. The quantum yield for the photoionization of VP-16 and PPT with single-photo is 0.21 and 0.61, respectively. In addition, they can react with hydrated electron, hydrogen radical and hydroxyl radical. This will give chemists some advice on synthesizing new derivatives of podophyllotoxin in cancer treatment.