An efficient multicomponent protocol has been developed to access two different kinds
of peptide–ecdysteroid conjugates. The approach exploits the reactivity of the 6-keto-7-ene
group of 20-OH-ecdysone, allowing the unprecedented preparation of 6-amino and 6-isocyanide
derivatives. The ecdysteroid derivatives were further employed in the Ugi reaction,
together with formaldehyde and various structurally diverse carboxylic acids, isocyanides
and amines, to afford a small family of potential multidrug-resistance modulators.
Key words
steroids - peptide-steroid conjugates - multicomponent reactions - Ugi reaction -
multidrug resistance