Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of new wortmannin esters: potent inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

New C-11 esters of the fermentation product wortmannin have been synthesized, with some of them further derivatized at C-17. The new esters show greater inhibition of isolated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and increased cell cytotoxicity in a rapidly proliferating leukemia cell line, when compared to wortmannin. Reduction of the C-17 ketone caused a slight increase in activity, while acylation of this new alcohol caused severe loss of activity. With their increased activity, the new C-11 esters may be good candidates to explore the in vivo antitumor effects of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors.