Antitumoral activity of new polyamine-naphthoquinone conjugates.

Polyamine-naphthoquinone conjugates 5a-c were synthesized by nucleophilic displacement of 2-methoxy-lawsone 3a, 2-methoxylapachol 3b and 2-methoxy-nor-lapachol 3c with the polyamine N1-Boc-N5-Bn-spermidine 4. Unprotected derivatives 6a-c were synthesized to evaluate the effect of the protective Boc group on the activity of compounds 5a-c. The colorimetric MTT assay was used to evaluate their cytotoxic activity.