Meunier G, Paoletti C, Meunier B
C R Acad Sci III. 1984;299(15):629-32.
9-methoxy ellipticine, an antitumor compound, is O-demethylated in presence of the system peroxidase-H2O2; this reaction yields the corresponding electrophilic quinone-imine and methanol. This O-demethylation reaction is reported for the first time and might be possibly extended to some other antitumor drugs.