Photochemical Alternatives to Hazardous Radical Initiators for the
Literature homolytic aromatic substitutions generally use toxic and hazardous tributyltin hydride and azo-initiator reagents. These reactions are inefficient since product yields are moderate to low, and toxic waste is generated.
Our research has established new photochemical (in the absence of chemical initiators) homolytic aromatic substitution alternatives, as well as chain reactions that require minimal amounts of initiators. These new methods have been used to prepare a new class of highly potent benzimidazolequinone anti-tumour agents. The latter molecules are shown to be selectively toxic towards cervical and prostate cancer cell lines.
Therefore, new “green” synthetic methodology have been invented, as well as the discovery of potential anti-cancer drug candidates.
