Esters 3a Research Articles

Facile synthesis of stereoregular helical poly(phenyl isocyanide)s and poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly(phenyl isocyanide) copolymer using chiral π-allylnickel complexes as initiators

Living polymerization of achiral phenyl isocyanide using a simply prepared chiral π-allylnickel complex as initiator was found to proceed in helix-sense-selective manner. The polymerization of achiral phenyl isocyanide, 4-isocyanobenzoyl-2-aminoisobutyric acid hexyl ester (1a) produced optically active helical poly-1am (L or D) whose chirality totally come from the helical conformation without containing any other chiral atoms. The monomer-structural effect on the helix-sense-selectivity was examined and indicated the long alkyl group in the monomer is not essential for the helix-sense-selective polymerization. The effect of chiral phosphine ligand was also investigated. The success of the helix-sense-selective polymerizations indicated the high activity of π-allylnickel complexes. Finally, polymerization of 2,5-dibromo-3-hexylthiophene (3HT) and subsequent addition of 1a in the presence of chiral π-allylnickel complex as a single catalyst afforded P3HTm-b-poly-1an with nonhelical P3HT and helical poly(phenyl isocyanide) (PPI) segments, which may be used as unique chiral organic materials in the future.

Synthesis and characterization of novel iminobenzoates with terminal pyrazine moieties

Apart from its numerous biological activities like antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, pyrazine moiety plays an important role in luminescent materials. Its role in luminescent materials is due to its highly electron deficient nature specially when it is in the centre along the mainstay of extended π-conjugated systems. Similarly, new liquid crystalline compounds are being made constantly where the central benzoaromatic moiety is being replaced with the heterocycles including pyrazine due to their more variable nature. Pyrazine derivatives can also be used in supramolecular assemblies due to their efficient hydrogen bonding, protonation and complexation properties. Keeping in view the enormous applications of pyrazine derivatives we planned to synthesize new extended iminobenzoates with pyrazine moieties at the terminal positions. The planned iminobenzoates with terminal pyrazine moieties were prepared following standard procedures. The pyrazine-2-carbohydrazide (1) and 5-methylpyrazine-2-carbohydrazide (2) were prepared by refluxing their methyl esters with hydrazine hydrate in methanol. The esters (3a–3f) were synthesized by reacting 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde with differently substituted acid halides in tetrahydrofuran in the presence of triethyl amine. The target compounds that is, iminobenzoates with the pyrazine moieties at terminal positions (4a–4l), were obtained in good to excellent yields by the reaction of the hydrazides with the esters at reflux. The synthesized compounds were fully characterized using different spectroanalytical techniques including FT-IR, NMR, Mass, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The paper describes the synthesis of novel iminobenzoates following easy methods while utilizing commercially available starting materials. The synthesized iminobenzoates may possibly be converted to compounds with luminescent and liquid crystalline properties after making suitable changes to the pyrazine moieties. Properly substituted pyrazines on both sides, capable of further suitable extensions, may result in compounds with such properties.

Allergy-preventive effects of linarinic acid and its tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazoline derivatives isolated from Linaria vulgaris.

Linarinic acid, (-)-1,2,3,9-tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-1-carboxylic acid (4a), was isolated from the ethanol extract of Linaria vulgaris Mill. In our previous study, a series of tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazoline derivatives 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b that were structurally related to 4a and evaluated as neuroprotective agents were synthesized. The aim of the present study was to investigate the novel features of these compounds. We examined their allergy-preventive effects using an in vivo assay system we developed previously, that monitors a decrease in blood flow in the tail vein of mice subjected to sensitization with hen egg-white lysozyme. We observed that 4a and its three derivatives, amide (6a), ester (5a), bromine (4b), and alcohol substituent (6b), showed significant allergy-preventive activities. The study confirmed the allergy-preventive activity of tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazoline derivatives by comprehensively monitoring the specific blood flow decrease occurring in the induction phase of allergy. This finding may aid in the development of new agents for the treatment of allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, and hay fever.

Regioselective synthesis of 7-O-esters of the flavonolignan silibinin and SARs lead to compounds with overadditive neuroprotective effects

A series of neuroprotective hybrid compounds was synthesized by conjugation of the flavonolignan silibinin with natural phenolic acids, such as ferulic, cinnamic and syringic acid. Selective 7-O-esterfication without protection groups was achieved by applying the respective acyl chlorides. Sixteen compounds were obtained and SARs were established by evaluating antioxidative properties in the physicochemical FRAP assay, as well as in a cell-based neuroprotection assay using murine hippocampal HT-22 cells. Despite weak activities in the FRAP assay, esters of the α,β-unsaturated acids showed pronounced overadditive effects at low concentrations greatly exceeding the effects of equimolar mixtures of silibinin and the respective acids in the neuroprotection assay. Cinnamic and ferulic acid esters (5a and 6a) also showed overadditive effects regarding inhibition of microglial activation, PC12 cell differentiation, in vitro ischemia as well as anti-aggregating abilities against Aβ42 peptide and τ protein. Remarkably, the esters of ferulic acid with silybin A and silybin B (11a and 11b) showed a moderate but significant difference in both neuroprotection and in their anti-aggregating capacities. The results demonstrate that non-toxic natural antioxidants can be regioselectively connected as esters with medium-term stability exhibiting very pronounced overadditive effects in a portfolio of biological assays.

Efficient synthesis of some novel furo[3,2-e]pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrazines and related heterocycles

ABSTRACTA series of novel 6-functionalized-5-amino-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-furo[3,2-e]pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrazines (4a–c) was synthesized by the reaction of 3-methyl-6-oxo-1-phenyl-6,7-dihydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrazine-5-carbonitrile (2) with α-halocarbonyl compounds such as: diethyl 2-bromomalonate, phenacyl bromide and chloroacetone. Cyclocondensation of the amino benzoyl 4b with diethyl malonate yielded the oxopyridine carboxylate derivative 5. Also, the starting intermediate amino ester compound 4a was allowed to react with ethanol amine to afford the hydroxyethyl caboxamide derivative 6. Furthermore, hydrazinolysis of the amino ester 4a afforded the corresponding amino carbohydrazide 7 which was used as a versatile precursor for synthesis of other heterocyclic compounds attached or fused to the furopyrazolopyrazine moiety. The chemical structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed on the basis of elemental and spectral analyses containing FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry hoping these molecules should allow us to investigate their pharmacological activities in the future study.

Detailed studies on the reduction of aliphatic 3-, 4-, 6-, and 13-oximino esters: Synthesis of novel isomeric amino esters, oximino alcohols, and amino alcohols

ABSTRACTThe preparation of novel 3-, 4-, 6-, and 13-amino-tetradecanoic acid methyl esters (2a–d) obtained by the reduction of 3-, 4-, 6-, and 13-oximino-tetradecanoic acid methyl esters (1a–d), was investigated. Oximino esters were reduced to afford the corresponding amino esters using NaBH4–ZrCl4 reducing system with good yields (58–82%). However, the reduction of oximino esters with LiAlH4 and BH3. Tetrahydrofuran gave the corresponding novel 3-, 4-, 6-, and 13-oximino alcohols (3a–d), and 3-, 4-, 6-, and 13-amino alcohols (4a–d) respectively with good chemical yields.

Novel Carbonyl Analogs of Tamoxifen: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation.

Aim of this work was to provide tamoxifen analogs with enhanced estrogen receptor (ER) binding affinity. Hence, several derivatives were prepared using an efficient triarylethylenes synthetic protocol. The novel compounds bioactivity was evaluated through the determination of their receptor binding affinity and their agonist/antagonist activity against breast cancer tissue using a MCF-7 cell-based assay. Phenyl esters 6a,b and 8a,b exhibited binding affinity to both ERα and ERβ higher than 4-hydroxytamoxifen while compounds 13 and 14 have shown cellular antiestrogenic activity similar to 4-hydroxytamoxifen and the known ER inhibitor ICI182,780. Theoretical calculations and molecular modeling were applied to investigate, support and explain the biological profile of the new compounds. The relevant data indicated an agreement between calculations and demonstrated biological activity allowing to extract useful structure-activity relationships. Results herein underline that modifications of tamoxifen structure still provide molecules with substantial activity, as portrayed in the inhibition of MCF-7 cells proliferation.

Convenient Synthesis of Piperazine Substituted Quinolones

A series of 1‐[(4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydroquinolin‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐4‐(substituted) piperazines 3a–c and methyl 2‐[(4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydroquinolin‐3‐yl)carbonylamino] alkanoates 5a–d has been developed by the direct condensation of ethyl [4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydro‐3‐quinoline] carboxylate 2 with N1‐monosubstituted piperazine hydrochlorides or amino acid ester hydrochloride in the presence of triethyl amine. The quinolone amino acid esters 5a–d were the key intermediate for the preparation of a series of 1‐[2‐((4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydroquinolin‐3‐yl)carbonylamino)alkylcarbony]‐4‐substituted piperazine derivatives 8–11 (a‐d) via azide coupling method with amino acid ester hydrochloride.

Adamantane acid esters with alkoxyaryl alcohols: Synthesis, antiproliferative activity, and influence on microtubule network of tumor cells

Adamantaneacetic and adamantanecarboxylic acid esters containing 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl, or 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methoxyphenyl groups were synthesized as unusual analogs of natural antitumor and anti-tubulin agents combretastatin A-4 and 2-methoxyestradiol. The compounds were found to possess noticeable cytotoxicity to epithelial human carcinoma cell line A549 (EC50 = 4.3—81 μmol L–1). An ability to cause complete depolymerization of microtubule network of A549 cells was demonstrated for 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methoxyphenyl adamantan-1-ylacetate (6a) at a concentration of 100 μmol L–1. Ester 6a belongs to a new structural type, which is unusual for the ligands of the tubulin colchicine domain, and is an interesting lead compound for further structural optimization.

UV absorbers for cellulosic apparels: A computational and experimental study

Two triazine based Ultra Violet (UV) absorbers Sulfuric acid mono-(2-{4-[4-chloro-6-(4-{4-chloro-6-[4-(2-sulfooxy-ethanesulfonyl)-phenylamino]-[1,3,5] triazin-2-ylamino-phenylamino)-[1,3,5]triazin-2-ylamino]-benzenesulfonyl}-ethyl) ester (1a) and 4-{4-chloro-6-[4-(2-sulfooxy-ethanesulfonyl)-phenylamino]-[1,3,5] triazin-2-ylamino}-2-[4-chloro-6-(2-sulfooxy-ethanesulfonyl)-[1,3,5]triazin-2-ylamino]-benzenesulfonic acid (2a) with different substituents were designed computationally. The influence of different substituents on the electrochemical properties and UV spectra of the absorbers was investigated. The presence of electron deficient unit in 1a to the molecular core significantly reduces the LUMO levels and energy gap. The designed absorbers were synthesized via condensation reaction and characterized by UV–Vis, FT-IR, MS studies. The performance of synthesized compounds as UV absorbers and their fastness properties were assessed by finishing the cotton fabric through exhaust method at different concentration and results appeared in good range.

Molecular structure of a brominated 2-benzazepinone – a crucial intermediate in the synthesis of novel chemokine CCR2 receptor antagonists

Abstract Chemokines (chemoattractant cytokines) together with their receptors represent key players in inflammatory processes. In order to develop novel chemokine CCR2 and CCR5 receptor antagonists, 2-benz-azepin-1-one 5 was prepared, which showed promising CCR2 affinity. During the synthesis, regioisomeric bromo substituted β-keto esters 4a and 4b had to be separated. A crystal structure determination of the regioisomer 4b displayed unequivocally the bromine atom in the 7-position and the existence of 4b as the enol ester tautomer. Although the 7-membered azepine ring is rather flat, it is distorted around the 3-methylene moiety.

Chemistry of Renieramycins. 17. A New Generation of Renieramycins: Hydroquinone 5-O-Monoester Analogues of Renieramycin M as Potential Cytotoxic Agents against Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells

A series of hydroquinone 5-O-monoester analogues of renieramycin M were semisynthesized via bishydroquinonerenieramycin M (5) prepared from renieramycin M (1), a major cytotoxic bistetrahydroisoquinolinequinone alkaloid isolated from the Thai blue sponge Xestospongia sp. All 20 hydroquinone 5-O-monoester analogues possessed cytotoxicity with IC50 values in nanomolar concentrations against the H292 and H460 human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. The improved cytotoxicity toward the NSCLC cell lines was observed from the 5-O-monoester analogues such as 5-O-acetyl ester 6a and 5-O-propanoyl ester 7e, which exhibited 8- and 10-fold increased cytotoxicity toward the H292 NSCLC cell line (IC50 3.0 and 2.3 nM, respectively), relative to 1 (IC50 24 nM). Thus, the hydroquinone 5-O-monoester analogues are a new generation of the renieramycins to be further developed as potential marine-derived drug candidates for lung cancer treatment.

Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial and biofilm inhibitory activities of new N-oxide esters

Novel N-oxide esters were synthesized from tertiary amine esters, which in turn were obtained from the reaction of 11-bromoundecanoic acid and different alkyl amines. The synthesized N-oxide esters were characterized by fourier transform infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectral analysis. The synthetic route involved three steps; initially, 11-bromoundecanoic acid was converted into methyl 11-bromoundecanoate, which was further converted into tertiary amine (mono and di) esters by reacting with different aliphatic amines (hexyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, dioctyl, and dicyclohexyl amine). Finally, the obtained amine esters were converted into N-oxide esters by treating with m-chloroperbenzoic acid. The synthesized N-oxide esters (4a–e) were studied for their antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities. Among all the synthesized N-oxide esters, compounds 4a and e showed good antimicrobial activity especially towards pathogenic gram-positive bacterial strains with minimum inhibitory concentration values in the range of 7.8–31.2 μg mL−1. The compounds which exhibited antimicrobial activity were also effective in anti-biofilm activity and it was found that the compound 4e exhibited promising biofilm inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 6.4 μg mL−1 against Bacillus subtilis MTCC 121. Further, compound 4e showed increased levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation, which may be contributing to the bactericidal activity in B. subtilis MTCC 121.

Ethyl phosphoramidates of acyclovir: design, synthesis, molecular docking (HN Protein), and evaluation of antiviral and antioxidant activities

Synthesis of a series of new ethyl phosphoramidates 9a–j of acyclovir through phosphorylation of hydroxy group followed by substitution of numerous amines/amino acid esters 7a–j was accomplished. The structures of newly synthesized compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic data such as IR, NMR (1H, 13C, and 31P) and mass spectrophotometery, and elemental analyses. The synthesized products were screened for their antiviral activity against Newcastle disease virus, antioxidant potency by α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging and nitric oxide radical scavenging methods, and antioxidant capacity by Ferric reducing antioxidant power method. The compound bearing 1-hydroxy 2-butylamine, 9c and amino acid ester derivatives, bonded with leucine methyl ester 9h and tyrosine methyl ester 9j were found to be potent inhibiters of Newcastle disease virus than that of acyclovir drug. The compounds, 9c (IC50 value, 22.5 ± 1.00 μg/mL), 9i (IC50 value, 21.5 ± 1.00 μg/mL) and 9j (IC50 value, 19.0 ± 1.50 μg/mL) were exhibited promising antioxidant activity while other compounds displayed moderate to good antioxidant activity. Docking study using molecular docking environment into haemaglutinin–neuraminidase protein has been carried out to find the potential selectivity and binding orientation of these new compounds into protein binding site. Interestingly, all the title compounds except 9a and 9g docked well into HN protein with considerable binding affinities better than that of acyclovir drug.

Antimalarial Activity of some Kaurenes

The antirnalarial activity of sixteen ent-kaurenes was assayed on male albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (kaurenic acid), l5iα-hydroxy- ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, 15α-acetoxy- ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, and ent-kaur-9(11)16-en-19-oic acid, natural kaurenes isolated from two species of Espelletiinae, were modified by semisynthesis to obtain methyl esters, glucopyranosyl esters, epoxides, 17-hydroxy, and isokaurenes (compounds with a 15,16-double bond). The kaurenes were first submitted to an in vitro test to measure their capacity to inhibit the formation of β-hematin. Compared with chloroquine (95.7%), the best effect was shown by 16,17-epoxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid α-D- glucopyranosyl ester (2a), which produced 92.6% inhibition. Three other kaurenes showed good inhibition levels: ent-kaur- 16-en-I 9-oic acid (1a, 73.5%), 17-hydroxy- ent-kaur- I5-en-19-oic acid methyl ester (3b, 76.5%), and 15-oxo-16,17-epoxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (X-D-glucopyranosyl ester (4b,76.1%). These four compounds were assayed in a four day suppressive test in vivo (Peters' test) using chloroquine as a positive control. Two hours after infection the mice received the first treatment and then every 24 hours during four consecutive days. Blood smears from the tails were prepared on the fourth day and parasitemia was determined microscopically. Survivals were followed up to the 30th day post-infection, Once again compound 2a performed best, showing 4.5% of parasitemia on the fourth day post-infection (chloroquine 0.2%) and a survival time of 25.5 days (chloroquine 29.5 days; la 18.8 days, 4b 12.7 days and 3b 10.3 days). A comparative examination of the effect of all compounds on the in vitro test permitted the inference that the presence of a C- 19 carboxylic moiety was a requirement for the antimalarial activity and that a 16,17 epoxy group enhanced such activity.

Investigations on the immunosuppressive activity of derivatives of mycophenolic acid in immature dendritic cells

The main activity of mycophenolic acid 1 (MPA) and its analogs is the inhibition of proliferation of T cells. Here, we hypothesized that MPA and its conjugates inhibits also the activity of antigen-presenting cells (APC) including dendritic cells (DCs). We tested the effect of novel amino acid derivatives of MPA and conjugates of MPA with acridines/acridones on DCs by flow cytometry, ELISA and MLR assay. Both acridines/acridone derivatives could inhibit the maturation of DC, as shown by the decreased expression of B7 family receptors. It was confirmed in the mixed leucocyte reaction (MLR), in which T cells challenged with DCs pretreated with the analogs showed decreased proliferation and reduced cytokine secretion. The most interesting activity in this series of studies, that is, the suppression of CD86 receptor expression, decreased cytokine production and suppressed mixed leucocyte reaction, exhibited (mycophenoyl-N-3-propyl)-9-acridone-4-carboxamide ester 5a and (mycophenoyl-N-5-pentyl)-9-acridone-4-carboxamide ester 5b. These compounds reduced also the secretion of IL-2 and IL-15. In addition, they increased secretion of suppressive IL-10. Equally promising results were obtained for the N-mycophenoyl-D-glutamic acid 4b, which previously gave the highest value of selectivity. Acridone derivatives of MPA are therefore good immunosuppressive drug candidates for further testing.

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of trans-β-Aryl-δ-hydroxy-γ-lactones and Enzymatic Kinetic Resolution of Their Racemic Mixtures.

Two novel and convenient routes to obtain enantiomerically enriched trans-β-aryl-δ-hydroxy-γ-lactones 5a–d with potential antifeedant and anticancer activity were developed. In the first method starting from corresponding enantiomers of γ,δ-unsaturated esters 4a–d derived from enzymatically resolved allyl alcohols 1a–d, both enantiomers of hydroxylactones 5a–d were synthesized with high enantiomeric excesses (73%–97%). Configurations of the stereogenic centers of the synthesized compounds were assigned based on the mechanism of acidic lactonization of esters 4a–d in the presence of m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA). An alternative method for the production of optically active trans-β-aryl-δ-hydroxy-γ-lactones 5a–d was lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of their racemic mixtures by transesterification with vinyl propionate as the acyl donor. The most efficient enzyme in the screening procedure was lipase B from Candida antarctica. Its application on a preparative scale after 6 h afforded unreacted (+)-(4S,5R,6S)-hydroxylactones 5a–d and (+)-(4R,5S,6R)-propionates 6a–d, most of them with high enantiomeric excesses (92%–98%). Resolution of lactone 5d with bulky 1,3-benzodioxol ring provided products with significantly lower optical purity (ee = 89% and 84% for hydroxylactone 5d and propionate 6d, respectively). The elaborated methods give access to both enantiomers of trans-β-aryl-δ-hydroxy-γ-lactones 5a–d with the defined absolute configurations of stereogenic centers, which is crucial requirement for the investigations of relationship: spatial structure–biological activity.

Synthesis and anti-mitotic activity of 6,7-dihydro-4H-isothiazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-5-ones: In vivo and cell-based studies

A series of 3,7-diaryl-6,7-dihydroisothiazolo [4,5-b]pyridin-5(4H)-ones 8 and 9 was synthesized by multicomponent condensation of 3-aryl-5-isothiazolecarboxylic acid esters 4a–f with aromatic (or thienyl) aldehydes 7 and Meldrum's acid in an acidic medium. The targeted compounds were evaluated for their antimitotic microtubule destabilizing activity using in vivo phenotypic sea urchin embryo model and in vitro human cancer cell-based assays. Selected dihydroisothiazolopyridinones altered sea urchin egg cleavage in 2–10 nM concentrations together with significant cytotoxicity against cancer cells including chemoresistant cell lines (IC50 in submicromolar – low nanomolar concentration range). Both approaches confirmed antimitotic microtubule destabilizing mechanism of action of the izothiazole derivatives. Structure-activity relationship study determined the importance of p-methoxybenzene A-ring for the antiproliferative effect. The most potent compound 9b containing p-methoxybenzene A-ring and thiophene B-ring caused mitotic arrest and disintegration of cell microtubules.

Simple Synthesis of Multi‐Halogen Pyrazino[1,2‐a]indole‐1,8(2H,5aH)‐diones

A concise and efficient one‐pot synthesis of multi‐halogen pyrazino[1,2‐a]indole‐1,8(2H,5aH)‐dione (MHPID) derivatives by the reaction of an enamino ester with multi‐halogen benzoquinone derivatives is described. MHPIDs 3a–3d were obtained with good yields (78–83%) by refluxing enamino esters 1a and 1b and tetrahalogen‐1,4‐benzoquinones 2a and 2b for 24 h without the use of catalysts. Compounds 3e–3p were also obtained with excellent yields (69–92%) via the reaction of the phenyl‐substituted enamino esters 1c–1h with tetrahalogen‐1,4‐benzoquinones 2a and 2b in CH3CN catalyzed by Cs2CO3. These two protocols are efficient and effective for the synthesis of MHPIDs.

Chemistry of Renieramycins. 15. Synthesis of 22-O-Ester Derivatives of Jorunnamycin A and Their Cytotoxicity against Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

Eighteen 22-O-ester derivatives of jorunnamycin A (2) were prepared via 2, and their cytotoxicity against human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells was evaluated. Preliminary study of the structure-cytotoxicity relationship revealed that the ester part containing a nitrogen-heterocyclic ring elevated the cytotoxicity of the 22-O-ester derivatives. Among them, 22-O-(4-pyridinecarbonyl) ester 6a is the most potent compound (IC50 1.1 and 1.6 nM), exhibiting 21-fold and 5-fold increases in cytotoxicity against the H292 and H460 NSCLC cell lines, respectively, relative to renieramycin M (1), the major cytotoxic bistetrahydroisoquinolinequinone alkaloid of the Thai blue sponge Xestospongia sp.