An efficient method for 4β-anilino-4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxins: Synthesis of NPF and W-68

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(96)00546-1

4β-Substituted podophyllotoxin congeners have been obtained with significant stereoselectivity and improved yields by employing Bu₄N⁺I in the displacement reaction of the 4-bromoepipodophyllotoxin. The DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors, NPF and W-68 have been prepared in good yields by this method.