Antineoplastic agents. 527. Synthesis of 7-deoxynarcistatin, 7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarcistatin, and trans-dihydronarcistatin 1(1).

The synthesis of sodium narcistatin (8) was improved (88% overall yield) and the modified reaction sequence was utilized to synthesize three new 3,4-cyclic phosphate prodrugs, sodium 7-deoxynarcistatin (5), sodium 7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarcistatin (6), and sodium trans-dihydronarcistatin (7). The human cancer cell line inhibitory isocarbostyril precursors were isolated from the bulbs of Hymenocallis littoralis obtained by horticultural production or reduction of narciclasine (1a --> 4) from the same source.