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Synthesis Of Novel Aziridine Derivatives Of Podocarpic Acid, Stephen Rhoden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Podocarpic acid (a diterpenoid resin acid extracted from the Podocarpacea specie of plants) has shown cytotoxicity against carcinoma of the nasopharynx. Since this discovery has been made, research has been performed in order to alter the structure of the resin acid so as to increase the anticancer activity. The carboxylic acid and phenol functional groups, which are present in podocarpic acid, make it possible to synthesize new derivatives selectively at the C-15, C-13, and C-7 positions as well as by substitution of the phenol hydroxyl group. Thus numerous derivatives can be prepared, in high yield, for the purpose of investigating …