Furofuranonaphthoquinones: bioactive compounds with a novel fused ring system from crescentia cujete

Carl E. Heltzel, A. A. Leslie Gunatilaka, T. E. Glass, David G.I. Kingston

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bioassay-directed fractionation of the methyl ethyl ketone extract of Crescentia cujete yielded the naphthoquinones 1 and 2. Both compounds are cytotoxic, and 1 shows selective DNA-damaging activity against yeast. Detailed spectroscopic interpretation led to the assignment of the structures of 1 and 2 as 3-hydroxymethylfuro[3,2-b]naphtho[2,3-d]furan-5,10-dione and 9-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylfuro[3,2-b]naphtho[2,3-d]furan-5,10-dione, respectively. This is the first report of this fused furofuran ring system, either as a natural product or a synthetic substance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6757-6762
Number of pages6
JournalTetrahedron
Volume49
Issue number31
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 30 1993
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Drug Discovery
  • Organic Chemistry

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