Synthesis of 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT)—Cinchona alkaloid conjugates via click chemistry: Toward novel fluorescent markers and cytostatic agents

Novel nucleoside–Cinchona alkaloid conjugates were synthesized using ‘click’ chemistry approach based on the copper(I) catalyzed Huisgen azide–alkyne cycloaddition. Two series of conjugates were prepared employing 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) as the azide component and the four 10,11-didehydro Cinchona alkaloids as well as their 9-O-propargyl ethers as the alkyne components. All obtained conjugates showed strong fluorescence emission and some of them exhibited marked cytotoxic activity in vitro.

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