Synthesis and biological activities of indolactone-V, the lactone analogue of the tumor promoter (-)-indolactam-V

The tumor promoter (-)-indolactam-V (1) exists in two stable conformers (twist and sofa) due to isomerization of the amide group. Indolactone-V (2), the lactone analogue of 1, has been synthesized to investigate the effects of the amide group on its conformation and biological activities. Indolactone-V (2) existed only as the inactive sofa-like conformer, indicating that the amide group of 1 plays a critical role in formation of the active twist conformation.