Studies towards the synthesis of Cephalostatin 1

Cephalostatin 1 has been isolated from the colonial marine worm Cephalodiscus gilchristi (Phylum Hemichordata) in the Indian Ocean. It has shown biomedical potential in preclinical trials as a cell growth inhibitor, active against U. S. murine P388 lymphocyte leukemia ED5010^-7-10^-9 μ/ml and a potent growth inhibitor against solid tumor types. Our research is focusing on developing methodology to produce disteroidal pyrazine and the introduction of delta 14, 15 unsaturation and C-16 hydroxyl groups in Cephalostatin 1A. The synthetic intermediates may be useful for biosynthetic studies and also analogues can be used to study structure-activity relationships.