Synthesis and biological evaluation of methoxylated analogs of the newer generation taxoids IDN5109 and IDN5390

Starting from 10-deacetylbaccatin III, the 2-debenzoyl-2-m-methoxybenzoyl analogs of the newer generation taxoids IDN5109 and IDN5390 were synthesized. The biological evaluation of these compounds (5 and 6, respectively) showed a general increase of cytotoxicity, as observed in first-generation anticancer taxanes.