Often used Alkynes in medicine There are not many known Alkynes that hold a good outcome for pharmaceuticals. They are rather toxic and dangerous for humans. Stay alert and be careful when working with Alkynes in the lab or on a workspace.

Although specific Alkynes known as ene-diynes possess a very strong and aggressive anti-tumor compound. These molecules are cyclic and contain an alkene (double bond) in between two alkyne (triple bonds) functions, therefore the name "ene < alkene" and "diyne < two alkynes".

An example of this anti-tumor working agent is the drug calicheamicin. When released into the tumor cells, it undergoes a strong reaction when it gets in contact with DNA, known as the Bergman cyclization. It will cleave the DNA and thus destroying it.

Structure of calicheamicin:





Trivia: it is rumored Alexander the Great was poisoned with calicheamicin. His death has had the same symptoms as of someone that would drink from the water of the river Styx (ri…