Synthesis of benzo-annulated tryptanthrins and their biological properties

A series of benzo-annulated derivatives of tryptanthrin were prepared and their optical and redox properties were studied. Tryptanthrin and its benzo-annulated derivatives showed selective inhibitory activity on Topo I with an increase of activity on Topo II by benzo-annulation on quinazolin-4(3H)-one moiety. Although the benzo-annulation on quinazolin-4(3H)-one ring did not affect significantly on the inhibitory activities against Topo I and II, the benzoannulation on indolin-3-one ring affected the inhibitory activity very much especially by linear annulation. Cytotoxicities were not significantly changed upon benzoannulation, which were not directly related either to the inhibitory activities against Topo I and II or to the reduction potentials.