1735. Camptothecin

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7689-03-4
(4S)-4-Ethyl-4-hydroxy-1H-pyrano[3′,4′:6,7]indolizino[1,2-b]quinoline-3,14(4H,12H)-dione.
C20H16N2O4; mol wt 348.35.
C 68.96%, H 4.63%, N 8.04%, O 18.37%.

Description and references

Antitumor alkaloid; prototype DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor. Isoln from the stem wood of the Chinese tree, Camptotheca acuminata Decsne., Nyssaceae, and structure: M. E. Wall et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 88, 3888 (1966). Approach to synthesis: Kepler et al., J. Org. Chem. 34, 3853 (1969). Total synthesis: E. J. Corey et al., ibid. 40, 2140 (1975). Total synthesis of racemate: G. Stork, A. G. Schultz, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 93, 4074 (1971); Volkmann et al., ibid. 5576; C. S. F. Tang et al., ibid. 97, 159 (1975); J. C. Bradley, G. Buchi, J. Org. Chem. 41, 699 (1976); T. Kametani et al., J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1 1981, 1563. Pharmacologic and clinical evaluation: Gottlieb et al., Cancer Chemother. Rep. Part 1 54, 461 (1970); Gallo et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 46, 789 (1971); S. M. Sieber et al., Cancer Treat. Rep. 60, 1127 (1976). Mechanism of action: Y. H. Hsiang et al., J. Biol. Chem. 260, 14873 (1985). HPLC determn in plasma: J. H. Beijnen et al., J. Chromatogr. 617, 111 (1993). Reviews: M. Potmesil, Cancer Res. 54, 1431-1439 (1994); M. E. Wall, M. C. Wani, ibid. 55, 753-760 (1995); C. J. Thomas et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. 12, 1585-1604 (2004).

Chemical structure

Properties

Pale yellow needles from methanol + acetonitrile, dec 264-267°. Also reported as mp 275-277° (Volkmann); 287-288° (Stork, Schultz). [α]D25 +31.3° (in chloroform-methanol, 8:2). Exhibits intense blue fluorescence under uv light. uv max: 220, 254, 290, 370 nm (ε 37320, 29230, 4980, 19900). Does not form stable salts with acids. Poorly sol in water.

Derivative

Acetate.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7688-64-4
C22H18N2O5; mol wt 390.39.
C 67.68%, H 4.65%, N 7.18%, O 20.49%.

Properties

Crystals, dec 271-274°. uv max: 220, 254, 290, 360-370 nm (ε 39010, 28740, 6160, 22000).

Derivative

Chloroacetate.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7688-65-5
C22H17ClN2O5; mol wt 424.83.
C 62.20%, H 4.03%, Cl 8.35%, N 6.59%, O 18.83%.

Properties

Crystals, dec 245-248°.