The search for and synthesis of potential antineoplastic drugs.

Abstract

The thesis is divided into three parts, the first and final parts describe phytochemical studies on two trees indigenous to the Pacific area. The remainder of the thesis is devoted to synthetic work connected with the phytochemical study. Bleekeria vitiensis, a tree which grows in Fiji has previously been shown to be the best natural source of the alkaloid 9-methoxyellipticine. Part I of this thesis confirms this observation and also describes the isolation of holeinine and a new alkaloid, bleekerine in addition to several other extractives. In Part II, attempts to synthesise 9-nitroellipticine are discussed. This we hoped would be a convenient intermediate for the preparation of several other derivatives which were to be tested for anticancer activity. Following this a successful preparation of 9-aminoellipticine is described. The final section of this thesis deals with an examination of the plant Lophopetalum rigidum (Celastraceae) which it was hoped would contain macrolide bases similar to those recently isolated from sister species.

Date of Award	1974
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath