SYNTHESIS OF ETOPOSIDE LACTAM VIA A MITSUNOBU REACTION SEQUENCE

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)99226-8

A novel chemical sequence for the conversion of a lactone antitumor agent 1 (etoposide) to the corresponding lactam 2 is described.The key steps involve a Mitsunobu cyclization (Ph3P, DEAD) of the γ-hydroxymethyl acyl benzaldehyde hydrazone 6 to a lactam derivative 7 followed by reductive cleavage (Ra-Ni) to lactam 2.