Osman Achmatowicz

Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Anthracyclinones

The anthracycline antibiotics are among the most important clinical drugs used in the treatment ofhuman cancer. The search for new agents with improved therapeutic efficacy and reduced cardiotoxicity stimulatedconsiderable efforts in the synthesis of new analogues. Since the biological activity of anthracyclinesdepends on their natural absolute configuration, various strategies for the synthesis of enantiomericallypure anthracyclinones (aglycones) have been developed. They comprise: resolution of racemic intermediate,incorporation of a chiral fragment derived from natural and non-natural chiral pools, asymmetric synthesiswith the use of a chiral auxiliary or a chiral reagent, and enantioselective catalysis. Syntheticadvances towards enantiopure anthracyclinones reported over the last 17 years are reviewed.