The title compound was prepared by radical addition of 3-(trimethylsilyl)propanal (II) to camptothecin (I) in the presence of FeSO4 and H2O2.
Reaction of 20-O-acetylcamptothecinone (I) with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride and pyridine afforded triflate (II). Subsequent displacement of the triflate group of (II) by methanethiol in the presence of diisopropylethylamine gave 20-O-acetyl-7-(methylthio)camptothecin (III). Finally, the acetate ester was hydrolyzed by treatment with K2CO3 in MeOH to yield the title compound.