Catalytic cyclometallation in steroid chemistry III1: Synthesis of steroidal derivatives of 5Z,9Z-dienoic acid and investigation of its human topoisomerase I inhibitory activity

•For the first time two approaches to stereoselective synthesis of steroid containing 5Z,9Z-dienoic acids have been developed.•High inhibitory activity of the synthesized acids against human topoisomerase I was found.•The structures of all novel compounds were confirmed by NMR measurements.

Two approaches to stereoselective synthesis of steroid 5Z,9Z-dienoic acids were developed, the first one being based on the cross-cyclomagnesiation of 2-(hepta-5,6-dien-1-yloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran and 1,2-diene cholesterol derivatives on treatment with EtMgBr catalyzed by Cp2TiCl2, while the other involving the synthesis of esters of hydroxy steroids with (5Z,9Z)-tetradeca-5,9-dienedioic acid, prepared in two steps using homo-cyclomagnesiation of 2-(hepta-5,6-dien-1-yloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran as the key step. High inhibitory activity of the synthesized acids against human topoisomerase I (hTop1) was found.

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