Role of the Hydrophobic Moiety of Tumor Promoters. Synthesis and Activity of 9-Alkylated Benzolactams

(-)-Benzolactam-V8-310 reproduces the active conformation and biological activity of teleocidins. Various sizes and shapes of alkyl groups on aromatic nucleus of BL-V8 were synthesized as optically pure forms. Structure-activity results indicate that hydrophobic substituents at C-9 position plays a critical role for the appearance of biological activities