title: A Ramberg-Bäcklund route to the stilbenoid anti-cancer agents combretastatin A-4 and DMU-212.
abstract: A concise route to combretastatin A-4, a potent inhibitor of tubulin polymerisation, using a Ramberg-Bäcklund reaction to form the key (Z)-stilbene unit has been developed; this Ramberg-Bäcklund approach has also been extended to prepare the (E)-stilbene DMU-212, which also possesses interesting growth inhibitory properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, UKYO10 5DD.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Richard J K
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013450:Sulfones / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: C482492:3,4,5,4'-tetramethoxystilbene; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013267:Stilbenes; D013450:Sulfones; C058728:fosbretabulin