Investigation of Tubulin Polymerizing Agents: Synthesis of Substituted Cyclooctatrienes as a Possible Taxoid Framework

The taxane family of compounds has proven to be synthetically challenging targets. Using a novel [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction, several substituted cyclooctatrienes were synthesized and tested for tubulin polymerization activity. Elaboration of this methodology could allow the synthesis of a modified taxoid scaffold thereby permitting the efficient synthesis of paclitaxel analogs.