Antineoplastic agents 285. Isolation and structures of cephalostatins 14 and 15

Abstract

The tube-inhabiting marine worm, Cephalodiscus gilchristi has been found to produce a series of cytotoxic and antineoplastic disteroidal alkaloids. A substantial study concerned with discovery of new cell growth inhibitory constituents of this marine animal has led to isolation of cephalostatins 14 (5a) and 15 (5b). The structures were determined by interpretation of spectral data, principally high-field (400 and 500 MHz) NMR and HRFABMS combined with NMR spectral relationships to cephalostatin 1 (4) where the structure was previously assigned by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The stereochemical assignments were established employing the ROESY NMR technique. Both new cephalostatins significantly inhibited growth of the P388 lymphocytic leukemia and a selection of human cancer cell lines. The two new cephalostatins further enhance knowledge of structure–activity parameters for these potentially important steroidal alkaloids.