La vinflunine, nouvel agent anticancéreux fluoré dérivé des alcaloïdes de Vinca

Reaction in superacid HF-SbF5 in the presence of CCl4 of vinorelbine yields (4'R)-20',20'difluoro-3',4'dihydrovinorelbine (vinflunine), whereas vinblastine or anhydrovinblastine give the difluoro analog. The reaction implies a 20' chloro derivative as intermediate which undergoes hydrid abstraction at C20' followed by halogen exchange. Vinflunine is presently in phase III experimentation for treatment of bladder cancer and non small lung cancer.