New benzo[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones and dihydrothieno [2,3-b]naphtho-4,9-dione derivatives: synthesis and biological evaluation as potential antitumoral agents

Novel antitumoral agents with quinonic structure were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activities. This study examines the cytotoxic activities of several aryl benzog]isoquinoline-5,10-dione derivatives and a number of aminoacyl dihydrothieno2,3-b]naphtho-4,9-dione (DTNQ) derivatives containing amino acids in position 3 of the ring system. Compound 6 showed remarkable cytotoxic activity at submicromolar concentration not only against several human leukaemia and solid tumour cell lines, but also toward sensitive and resistant human cell lines.