2,3-Quinolinedimethanol is a reactant used in the synthesis of camptothecin (C175150), an ntitumor alkaloid which binds irreversible to the DNVIP(LA)topoisomerase I complex, inhibiting the reassociation of DNA after cleavage by topoisomerase I and traps the enzyme in a covalent linkage with DNA. A cytotoxic antitumor agent