The synthesis and bioevaluation of the dicyclic arene-homospermidine conjugates

Four novel dicyclic arene-homospermidine conjugates (6a-d) were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity in L1210, α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) treated L1210, melanoma B 16, spermidine (SPD) treated B 16, and Hela cells. In the DFMO-treated L1210 experiments, 6a-d were more sensitive to DFMO than naphthalene-homospermidine (6e), suggesting that 6a-d can utilize the polyamine transporter (PAT) to enter the cells as well as 6e. The diminished cytotoxicity in the SPD/B 16 experiments also supported this conclusion. In summary, the homospermidine is an efficacious vector to ferry dicyclic arenes into cells via PAT.