A simple and efficient method for synthesizing chiral heterocyclic compounds with the hexahydrofluoreno[9,1-bc]furan framework via interaction between trans-4-hydroxymethyl-2-carene and aromatic aldehydes containing methoxy and hydroxyl moieties in the presence of montmorillonite clay was found. One of the synthesized compounds exhibited a high cytotoxic activity against lymphoblastoid cell line MT-4 (CTD50 0.9μM), which was higher than that of the comparative drug Doxorubicin. Death of cancer cells in this case substantially occurs via induction of apoptosis.
Keywords: Antitumor activity; Apoptosis; Carene; Clay; Cytotoxicity; Heterocycle; Terpene.
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