First synthesis and cytotoxic activity of novel docetaxel analogs modified at the C18-position

To investigate the effect of the C-18 position of docetaxel in its cytotoxic activity, 18-modified docetaxel analogs were synthesized for the first time from the 18-brominated baccatin derivatives. All of these analogs were found to be less active than docetaxel in cytotoxic activity against four test cell lines.