CC-1065 and the duocarmycins: synthetic studies

Synthetic approaches to the natural duocarmycins and CC-1065 products have been developed through a wide range of studies, with the nature of DNA alkylation reaction determined in part by the agents identified from studies of analogs containing deep structural changes. These studies also identify relationships between biological activity, chemical reactivity and structure, the DNA alkylation reaction catalysis source, and the source of DNA alkylation selectivity. The efficacy and potency of the analogs could be better than those of the natural products. Additional analogs could still potentially be developed.