Design, synthesis and vasodilative activity of tanshinone IIA derivatives.

A new series of tanshinone IIA (DIIA) derivatives were synthesized through the reaction of brominated tanshinone IIA (1-Br DIIA) and aromatic acids in the presence of K(2)CO(3). Twenty compounds were synthesized, and all of them were novel. Vasodilative activities for synthesized compounds were valuated in vitro on the contractile response of vascular thoracic aorta smooth muscle from Wistar rats. The results showed that most compounds exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition on the contractile response of norepinephrine. Four prepared compounds, 4, 5, 8 and 13 revealed relatively remarkable vasodilative activity.