A synthesis of 3-deoxydihydrolycoricidine: Refinement of a structurally minimum pancratistatin pharmacophore

The synthesis of 3-deoxydihydrolycoricidine, a key element toward elucidation of the pancratistatin anticancer pharmacophore, is described. Biological evaluation of this compound showed it to be significantly less active against tumor cells than pancratistatin. In addition to those features previously identified, the requirement of a 2,3,4-triol functionalized ring-C is now definitely established as the minimum pharmacophoric element for potent anticancer activity.