Synthesis and biological evaluation of (±)-cryptotanshinone and its simplified analogues as potent CDC25 inhibitors

(±)-Cryptotanshinone and its simplified analogues were synthesized via SmI2 promoted radical cyclization to construct the furan ring. Analogues 18 and 26 were identified as effective inhibitors of dual specificity protein phosphatase CDC25B which is a key enzyme for cell cycle progression, and they also inhibited growth in A-549 human lung cancer cell line.