# SYNTHESIS OF ANTILEUKEMIC & TUMOR-PROMOTING TERPENOIDS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 1989 · $72,814

## Abstract

Many plants of the Euphorbiaceae (spurges) produce toxic and/or
irritating substances which belong to a small family of closely
related diterpene skeletons.  The biological properties of these
compounds are impressive, including the tumor-promoting properties
of various phorbol esters, the tumor-promoting and antileukemic
properties of lathyranoid compounds, and the antileukemic activity
of jatrophane and other jatrophane diterpenoids.  It has been
suggested that these compounds derive biological activity from an
ability to bind with kinase C or at prostaglandin receptor sites
and then undergo reaction with nearby nucleophilic centers.

We propose to conduct chemical syntheses of some representative
diterpenoids of this group, and to develop methodology which might
be used to synthesize still other members of the family.  The
syntheses are designed to afford the natural enantiomers of our
objectives.  We believe that thiS is essential, at least until the
stereospecificity of the receptor site(s) is (are) established.
Through bioassay of selected intermediates, we hope to increase our
understanding of the mechanism(s) responsible for the observed
biological activity.  Ultimately, this may lead to the ability to
design second generation substances with enhanced antileukemic
activity, and to a better understanding of the process of tumor
promotion.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3171534
- **Project number:** 5R01CA033743-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** Z1H9VJS8NG16
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID F WIEMER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $72,814
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-02-01 → 1991-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3171534

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3171534, SYNTHESIS OF ANTILEUKEMIC & TUMOR-PROMOTING TERPENOIDS (5R01CA033743-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3171534. Licensed CC0.

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