Preparation of new polymer from podophyllotoxin derivative

Summary The new monomer, 4α-acrylpodophyllotoxin(APPT) was synthesized from reaction of acryloyl chloride with the 4α-hydroxy of podophyllotoxin. The homo- and copolymer of new monomer with NIPAAm/AAm have been prepared by free radical polymerization. The new monomer and polymers have been characterized by IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra. The homopolymer have low the molecular weight but it is not oligomer, and the molecular weight of copolymer increased with decreasing new monomer content. The composition of copolymers was close to the original monomer composition. The distinction of antitumor activity among podophyllotoxin, new monomer and homopolymer was smaller. The copolymer with NIPAAm (The PAPPT content (mol-%) =43.7%) did not exhibit any antitumor activity at present condition of experimentation. Received: 30 July 2001/ Revised version: 3 September 2001/ Accepted: 14 September 2001