A simplified synthesis of Podophyllotoxin glucoside derivatives

Abstract Podophyllotoxin glucoside derivatives (Etoposide, Teniposide etc.) were synthesized from Podohyllotoxin by 5 steps of reactions. The method has many advantages, such as no need of protecting 4′-hydroxy, decrease of 2 reactions, and increase of more than 10% in total yield, in comparison with the conventional process. In this paper, alcoholysis reaction conditions were carefully studied and 5 metals as catalytic agent were selected. The new alcoholysis reaction is characterized by simple procedures, good quality and high yield.