Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel alpha-aminophosphonates from diterpenic dehydroabietylamine

A series of novel a-aminophosphonates were synthesized from diterpenic dehydroabietylamine, and their structures were characterized by IR, H-1 NMR, and P-31 NMR spectroscopy. Their antitumor activities against SMMC7721 liver cancer cells were evaluated by the MTT method. Compounds 4 and 6 exhibited higher activities even at vety low concentrations, and the inhibition ratios reached 75% and 79% at 0. 1 mu M, respectively. The inhibition ratio of compound 9 reached 99% after 72-h incubation. aAminophosphonates with a fluorine atom and a nitro group fused to the benzene ring exhibited higher activities. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.