Combretastatin Analogs

Combretastatins are highly oxygenated stilbene based natural products which have been isolated in 1987 by Pettit and co-workers from the bark of the African Willow Tree (Combretum caffrum). The combretastatins are among the most potent cytotoxic compounds known to-date.

Despite the pronounced in vivo activity of combretastatin, the in vitro activity is limited because of the high tendency of the stilbene moiety to undergo cis/trans isomerization under physiological conditions. We are currently engaged in the preparation of cis-restrained analogs of these pharmaceutically interesting natural products for extended biological evaluation.