Synthesis and cytotoxic activity on human cancer cells of carbamate derivatives of 4β-(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)podophyllotoxin.

Carbamate derivatives of 4β-(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)podophyllotoxin were synthesized by means of click chemistry, and their cytotoxicities against human cancer cell lines HL-60, A-549, HeLa, and HCT-8 were evaluated. Some compounds were more potent than the anticancer drug etoposide. 4'-O-Demethyl-4β-[(4-hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]-4-deoxypodophyllotoxin cyclopentyl carbamate, the most potent compound, induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase accompanied by apoptosis in A-549 cells. Furthermore, this compound inhibited the formation of microtubules in A-549 cells and caused the inhibition of DNA topoisomerase-II.