Abstract To evaluate the influences of the tetraponerine alkyl chains and tricyclic ring systems on their cytotoxic activities, we have prepared a series of alkyl derivatives (3a, 3b and 4a–f) of the non-natural tricyclic skeletons decahydro-2H, 6H-dipyrido [1, 2-a: 1′, 2′-c] pyrimidine (3, 6–6–6 skeleton) and dodecahydro-2H-1, 8a-diazaphenanthrene (4, iso-6–6– 6 skeleton). In this study, two ways to synthesise the 6–6–6 analogues have been ...
