Synthesis and biological activities of new tricyclic-bis-enones (TBEs)

A compound comprising the structure Q1:

• wherein
• R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are each independently —H, hydroxy, amino, cyano, halo, nitro, mercapto, phosphate, sulfonic acid, sulfonate or substituted or unsubstituted versions of C1-C15-alkyl, C2-C15-alkenyl, C2-C15-alkynyl, C6-C15-aryl, C7-C15-aralkyl, C1-C15-heteroaryl, C2-C15-heteroaralkyl, C1-C15-acyl, C1-C15-alkoxy, C2-C15-alkenyloxy, C2-C15-alkynyloxy, C6-C15-aryloxy, C7-C15-aralkoxy, C1-C15-heteroaryloxy, C2-C15-heteroaralkyloxy, C1-C15-acyloxy, C1-C15-alkylamino, C2-C15-alkenylamino, C2-C15-alkynylamino, C6-C15-arylamino, C7-C15-aralkylamino, C1-C15-heteroarylamino, C2-C15-heteroaralkylamino, C2-C15-amido, C1-C15-alkylthio, C6-C15-arylthio, C7-C15-aralkylthio, C1-C15-heteroarylthio, C2-C15-heteroaralkylthio, C1-C15-acylthio, or C0-C15-silyl;
• X is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, ═O, ═NR′, and ═S, wherein R′ is —H, —OH, —NH2, or NHR″, wherein R″ is a substituted or unsubstituted version of C1-C15-alkyl or C6-C15-aryl;
• A, B, C and D, each independently signifies a single- or double-bond, provided that (1) when D is a double-bond, R4 is absent, (2) when C is a double bond, X is ═O, ═NR′ or ═S, (3) when C is a single bond, X is —H or —OH, (4) when A is a double bond B is a single bond, and (5) when B is a double bond A is a single bond;
• n is 0, 1, or an integer greater than 1;
• the ketone group shown in the above structure may replaced by its enol tautomer, and
• pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, tautomers and optical isomers thereof.