Synthesis of tetra- and pentacyclic carbazole-fused imides as potential antitumor agents

Abstract

A series of tetra- and pentacyclic imides with a carbazole skeleton and a basic side chain at the imide nitrogen was synthesized by cyclization of carbazole-2,3-dicarboxylic acid esters with an appropriate amine or via an N-aminoimide as a reactive intermediate. The target compounds 6 and 9 were tested in vitro for tumor cell-growth inhibition © ARKAT USA, Inc.