Synthesis and antitumor activity of 5-[1-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)-5-halogenated-2-oxoindolin-(3Z)-ylidenemethyl]-2,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamides

We report herein the design and synthesis of novel 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]indolin-2-one derivatives based on the structural features of Sunitinib, a known multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and TMP-20, a previously discovered compound with good antitumor activity in our lab. These newly synthesized derivatives were evaluated for in vitro activity against five human cancer cell lines and VEGF/bFGF-stimulated HUVECs. Results revealed that all of the target compounds 1a-p show potent antitumor activity, compounds 1e-h (IC₅₀’s: 0.45-5.08 μM) are more active than Sunitinib (IC₅₀’s: 1.35-6.61 μM), and the most active compound 1h (IC₅₀: 0.47-3.11 μM) is 2.1-4.6-fold more potent than Sunitinib against all five cancer cell lines. In addition, like Sunitinib, 1a-p have higher selectivity on VEGF-stimulated HUVEC other than bFGF-stimulated HUVEC.     

Cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of diterpenes and sterols from the Vietnamese soft coral Lobophytum compactum

Two new diterpenes, lobocompactols A (1) and B (2), and five known compounds (3-7) were isolated from the methanol extract of the soft coral Lobophytum compactum using combined chromatographic methods and identified based on NMR and MS data. Each compound was evaluated for cytotoxic activity against A549 (lung) and HL-60 (acute promyelocytic leukemia) human cancer cell lines. Among them, compound 5 exhibited strong cytotoxic activity against the A549 cell line with an IC₅₀ of 4.97 ± 0.06 μM. Compounds 3, 4, and 7 showed moderate activity with IC₅₀ values of 23.03 ± 0.76, 31.13 ± 0.08, and 36.45 ± 0.01 μM, respectively. The cytotoxicity of 5 on the A549 cells was comparable to that of the positive control, mitoxantrone (MX). All compounds exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against the HL-60 cell line, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 17.80 ± 1.43 to 59.06 ± 2.31 μM. Their antioxidant activity was also measured using oxygen radical absorbance capacity method, compounds 1 and 2 exhibiting moderate peroxyl radical scavenging activity of 1.4 and 1.3 μM Trolox equivalents, respectively, at a concentration of 5 μM.     

Regioselective one pot synthesis of 3,3'-diindolylethylene derivatives and study of their cytotoxic activity

2,2′-Diphenyl-3,3′-diindolylethylene (DPDIE) derivatives 3a-g were regioselectively prepared in one pot from indoles 1a-g in the presence of Lewis acids and were subsequently evaluated for cytotoxic activity against human leukemic cell lines, U937 and K562. The most potent compound 3g exhibited IC₅₀ of 13.0-17.0 μM.     

Pregnane alkaloids from Pachysandra axillaris

Nine new pregnane alkaloids, pachysamines J-R (1-9), together with seven known ones, were isolated from Pachysandra axillaris. The chemical structures of the new alkaloids were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. All the compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, SK-BR-3, and PANC-1 cell lines. Compound 15 possessed moderate activities against A-549, SK-BR-3, and PANC-1 cells, with the IC₅₀ values of 11.17, 4.17, and 10.76 μM, respectively. Besides, compound 11 showed cytotoxicities against A-549 cell, with the IC₅₀ values as 24.94 μM.     

Pregnenolone derivatives as potential anticancer agents

Pregnenolone (1) was used as a template to develop new anticancer compounds. Ring-D modification of 1 resulted in the synthesis of benzylidenes 2-17, pyrazolines 18-76, pyrazoles 85-91, hydrazones 77-84, and oximes 92-107 derivatives. The structure of compound 107 was also deduced through single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The inclusion of furanyl and pyridyl rings to pregnenolone skeleton increases the cytotoxicity of all compounds significantly. Among benzylidene derivatives, only heterocyclic enone 8 (IC₅₀ = 0.74 μM/mL against HepG2), and 17 (IC₅₀ = 4.49 μM/mL against HepG2, IC₅₀ = 5.01 μM/mL against MDA-MB-230 cancer cell line) exhibited a significant activity. The cytotoxicity data of pyrazoline derivatives 18-76 revealed that only furanyl bearing pyrazolines 40, 42-44, 48, and 49 exhibited significant activities. While all (O-carboxymethyl) oximes, hydazones, and pyrazoles derivatives of pregnenolone did not show any significant activity against both the cell lines. Thus the furanyl bearing enone 8 (IC₅₀ = 0.74 μM/mL against HepG2), and its pyrazoline derivative 48 (IC₅₀ = 0.91 μM/mL against MDA-MB-230 cancer cell lines) were identified as the most active compounds in all derivatives of pregnenolone.     

Platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes with (N,N') and (C,N,N')- ligands derived from pyrazole as anticancer and antimalarial agents: synthesis, characterization and in vitro activities

The study of the reactivity of three 1-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-1H-pyrazole derivatives of general formula [1-(CH₂)₂NMe₂}-3,5-R₂-pzol] {where pzol represents pyrazole and RH (1a), Me (1b) or Ph (1c)} with [MCl₂(DMSO)₂] (MPt or Pd) under different experimental conditions allowed us to isolate and characterize cis-[M{κ²-N,N′-{[1-(CH₂)₂NMe₂}-3,5-R₂-pzol])}Cl₂] {MMPtPt (2a-2c) or Pd (3a-3c)} and two cyclometallated complexes [M{κ³-C,N,N′-{[1-(CH₂)₂NMe₂}-3-(C₅H₄)-5-Ph-pzol])}Cl] {MPt(II) (4c) or Pd(II) (5c)}. Compounds 4c and 5c arise from the orthometallation of the 3-phenyl ring of ligand 1c. Complex 2a has been further characterized by X-ray crystallography. Ligands and complexes were evaluated for their in vitro antimalarial against Plasmodium falciparum and cytotoxic activities against lung (A549) and breast (MDA MB231 and MCF7) cancer cellular lines. Complexes 2a-2c and 5c exhibited only moderate antimalarial activities against two P. falciparum strains (3D7 and W2). Interestingly, cytotoxicity assays revealed that the platinacycle 4c exhibits a higher toxicity than cisplatin in the three human cell lines and that the complex 2a presents a remarkable cytotoxicity and selectivity in lung (IC₅₀ = 3 μM) versus breast cancer cell lines (IC₅₀ > 20 μM). Thus, complexes 2c and 4c appear to be promising leads, creating a novel family of anticancer agents. Electrophoretic DNA migration studies in presence of the synthesized compounds have been performed, in order to get further insights into their mechanism of action.     

Prenylated C6-C3 compounds with molecular diversity from the roots of Illicium oligandrum

Eleven prenylated C₆-C₃ compounds, illioliganpyranone A (1), illioliganfunone A-D (2-5), and illioliganone D-I (6-11), together with five known prenylated C₆-C₃ compounds (12-16), were isolated from roots of Illicium oligandrum. The structures of 1-11 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, and CD experiments. Possible biosynthetic pathways to compounds 1-16 derived from a common precursor of 5-allylbenzene-1,2,4-triol were postulated. All compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines (HCT-8, Bel-7402, BGC-823, A549 and A2780). Compound 15 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against HCT-8, BGC-823, A549, and A2780 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 0.30-2.57 μM. Compound 16 showed moderate selective cytotoxicity against sensitive A2780 cells with IC₅₀ value of 1.38 μM.     

Synthesis and evaluation of chromenyl barbiturates and thiobarbiturates as potential antitubercular agents

A novel series of barbiturate and thiobarbiturate analogs of 2-benzoyl-3-methyl-5-oxo-5H-furo[3,2-g]chromene-6-carbaldehydes (3a-g and 4a-d, respectively) and 6-methyl-4,8-dioxo-4,8-dihydropyrano[3,2-g]chromenes (7a-c), were synthesized and evaluated for their antitubercular activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37RV, and cytotoxicity (CC₅₀) in the VERO cell MABA assay. The results indicate that the furanochromene series of compounds (3a-g and 4a-d) showed only weak to moderate antitubercular activity. However, the pyranochromene analog 7b showed good antitubercular activity (IC₉₀: 5.9 μg/mL) and cytotoxicity (CC₅₀: 14.27 μg/mL). The antitubercular activity of 7b was superior to the antituberculosis drug, pyrazinamide (PZA; IC₉₀: >20 μg/mL). Analog 7b was considered to be a lead compound for subsequent structural optimization.     

Structure-activity relationships and DNA binding properties of apoptosis inducing cytotoxic rhodium(III) polypyridyl complexes containing the cyclic thioether [9]aneS3

The Rh(III) polypyridyl complexes of the type [RhCl(pp)([9]aneS₃)]²⁺ [(pp) = 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), 2,2′-bipyrimidine (bpm),1,10-phenanthroline (phen), pyrazino[2,3-f]quinoxaline (tap), dipyrido[3,2-d:2′,3′-f]quinoxaline (dpq), dipyrido[2,3-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine (dppz)] 2-7 have been prepared in a stepwise manner by treatment of RhCl₃ · 3H₂O with the appropriate polypyridyl ligand (pp) followed by 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane. Interactions of the polypyridyl complexes with DNA were investigated by CD and UV/visible spectroscopy and by gel electrophoresis. The dpq complex 6 cleaves DNA exiguously in the dark, but UV irradiation is required to induce nuclease activity for the bpy complex 2. Whereas 2 [IC₅₀ values: 12.8 (±0.2) and 4.4 (±0.1) μM] exhibits significantly higher cytotoxicities towards MCF-7 and HT-29 cells than 4 [IC₅₀ values: 36.3 (±6.0) and 72.2 (±8.0)], the activity of complexes in the series 4/6/7 correlates directly with the size of the polypyridyl ligand, as documented by their respective IC₅₀ values of 72.2 (±8.0), 20.9 (±2.8) and 7.4 (±2.2) towards HT-29 cells. Complexes of the nitrogen-rich ligands bpm (3) [IC₅₀ values: 1.7 (±0.5) and 1.9 (±0.1) μM] and tap (5) [IC₅₀ values: 11.5 (±0.6) and 7.6 (±4.8) μM] are considerably more potent than their bpy and phen counterparts 2 and 4. Measurement of the lactate dehydrogenase release for lymphoma (BJAB) cells after 1 h incubation demonstrates that unspecific necrosis is negligible for the most active compounds 3 and 7. Specific cell death apoptosis via DNA fragmentation was detected for BJAB cells after 72 h incubation and significant loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential in lymphoma cells indicates that the intrinsic pathway is involved.     

Synthesis and antiglycation potentials of bergenin derivatives

Bergenin (1), major bioactive compound isolated from methanolic extract of Mallotus philippinensis, displayed moderate AGE inhibition activity (IC₅₀ = 186.73 μM). A series of derivatives of bergenin (3a-k) containing variety of aromatic acids were synthesized under mild conditions by modification of sugar part. Selective esterification of hydroxyl groups on the sugar part enhanced antiglycation potential of bergenin. Compounds 3j and 3k exhibited potent antiglycation activity with the IC₅₀ values of 60.75 and 12.28 μM, respectively.     

One-pot synthesis and anticancer studies of 2-arylamino-5-aryl-1,3,4-thiadiazoles

A series of 2-arylamino-5-aryl-1,3,4-thiadiazoles 1a-j were synthesized and screened for their anticancer activity against various human cancer cell lines. The novel one-pot synthesis of 1,3,4-thiadiazoles was achieved by refluxing aryl aldehydes, hydrazine hydrate, and aryl isothiocyanates in methanol followed by oxidative cyclization with ferric ammonium sulfate. The compounds 1g-j with trimethoxyphenyl at the C-5 position displayed extremely potent anticancer activity with at least twofold selectivity (IC₅₀: 4.3-9.2 μM). The nature of substituent on the C-2 arylamino ring may be critical in opting for the selectivity towards a particular cancer cell.     

Neighbouring metal induced oxidative addition at the iron centre amongst the iron-arylpyridylphosphine complexes

Complexes of the type (η⁴-BuC₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂(P) (P = PPh₂Py 3, PPhPy₂4, PPy₃5; Py = 2-pyridyl) were satisfactorily prepared. Upon treatment of 3 with M(CO)₃(EtCN)₃ (M = Mo, 6a; W, 6b), the pyridyl N-atom could be coordinated to the metal M, which then eliminates a CO ligand from the Fe-centre and induced an oxidative addition of the endo-C-H of (η⁴-BuC₅H₅). This results in a bridged hydrido heterodimetallic complex [(η⁵-BuC₅H₄)Fe(CO)(μ-P,N-PPh₂Py)(μ-H)M(CO)₄] (M = Mo, 7a, 81%; W, 7b, 76%). The reaction of 4 or 5 with 6a,b did not give the induced oxidative addition, although these complexes contain more than one pyridyl N-atom. The reaction of 4 with M(CO)₄(EtCN)₂ (M = Mo, 9a; W, 9b) produced heterodimetallic complexes [(η⁴-BuC₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂(μ-P:N,N′-PPhPy₂)M(CO)₄] (M = Mo, 10a, 81%; W, 10b, 83%). Treatment of 5 with 6a,b gave [(η⁴-BuC₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂(μ-P:N,N′,N″-PPy₃)M(CO)₃] (M = Mo, 12a, 96%; W, 12b, 78%).     

Synthesis, cellular uptake and structure-activity relationships for potent cytotoxic trichloridoiridium(III) polypyridyl complexes

The complexes fac-[IrCl₃(DMSO)(pp)] 1a-5a may be prepared by stepwise reaction of IrCl₃ · 3H₂O with the appropriate polypyridyl ligand (pp = bpy, phen, dpq, dppz, dppn) and DMSO in CH₃OH solution in the dark. The fac isomers of 1a-5a are stable in light-protected CD₂Cl₂ solution but, with the exception of 5a, isomerize rapidly to a mixture of the fac and mer isomers in the presence of light. In contrast, solutions of the fac isomers in the polar solvents D₂O and CD₃OD are stable under such conditions. The isomer mer-[IrCl₃(DMSO-κS)(phen)] 2b was, however, isolated by slow evaporation of an H₂O/CH₃OH solution of 2a and characterized by X-ray structural analysis. UV/Vis and CD studies of the interaction of 1a-5a with calf thymus DNA are in accordance with an effective absence of intercalation. ¹H NMR studies indicate that the complexes react slowly with compounds containing soft S donor atoms (e. g. N-acetylmethionine) but do not react with the guanine base of 5′-GMP²⁻. The complexes 2a-5a are potent in vitro cytotoxic agents toward the human cell lines MCF-7 and HT-29 and their IC₅₀ values are dependent on the size of the polypyridyl ligand in the order phen, dpq > dppz > dppn. For instance IC₅₀ values of 5.5 (0.9), 0.8 (0.3) and 0.21 (0.11) μM were established for 3a-5a against MCF-7 cells and 6.1 (0.7), 1.5 (0.2) and 1.3 (0.4) μM against HT-29 cells. These values correlate with the cellular uptake efficiency which, on exposure to 10 μM solutions, reaches its highest levels (19.3(0.8) and 37.4(8.9) ng Ir/mg protein for MCF-7 and HT-29, respectively) for the dppn compound 5a.     

Efficient synthesis and biological evaluation of epiceanothic acid and related compounds

Epiceanothic acid (1) is a naturally occurring, but very rare pentacyclic triterpene with a unique pentacyclic triterpene (PT) structure. An efficient synthesis of 1 starting from betulin (3) has been accomplished in 12-steps with a total yield of 10% in our study. Compound 1 and selected synthetic intermediates were further evaluated as anti-HIV-1 agents, inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase (GP), and cytotoxic agents. Compound 1 exhibited moderate HIV-1 inhibition. Most importantly, compound 5, with an opened A-ring, showed significant GP inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ of 0.21 μM, suggesting a potential for development as an anti-diabetic agent. On the other hand, compound 12, with a closed A-ring, showed potent cytotoxicity against A549 and MCF-7 human tumor cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 0.89 and 0.33 μM, respectively. These results suggest that the A-ring of PTs is an important pharmacophore that could be modified to involve different biological activities.     

Bis(pyrazolyl) palladium(II), platinum(II) and gold(III) complexes: Syntheses, molecular structures and substitution reactions with l-cysteine

A series of pyrazolyl palladium(II), platinum(II) and gold(III) complexes, [PdCl₂(3,5-R₂bpza)] {R = H (1), R = Me (2), bpza = bis-pyrazolyl acetic acid}, [PtCl₂(3,5-R₂bpza)] {R = H (3a), R = Me (4)}, [AuCl₂(3,5-R₂bpza)]Cl {R = H (5a), R = Me (6a)} and [PdCl₂(3,5-R₂bpzate)] {R = Me (7)} have been synthesised and structurally characterised. Single crystal X-ray crystallography showed that the pyrazolyl ligands exhibit N^N-coordination with the metals. Anticancer activities of six complexes 1-6a were investigated against CHO cells and were found to have low activities. Substitution reactions of selected complexes 1, 2, 3a and 5a with l-cysteine show that the low anticancer activities compounds and that the rate of substitution with sulfur-containing compounds is not the cause of the low anticancer activities.     

Dinuclear organoiridium(III) mono- and bis-intercalators with rigid bridging ligands: Synthesis, cytotoxicity and DNA binding

The DNA binding and in vitro cytotoxicity of the dinuclear Ir(III) polypyridyl complexes [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ir(dppz)}₂(μ-pyz)](CF₃SO₃)₄1 and [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ir(pp)}₂(μ-4,4′-bpy)](CF₃SO₃)₄2-4 (pp = dipyrido[3,2-d:2′,3′-f]quinoxaline (dpq), dipyrido[2,3-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine (dppz), benzo[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine (dppn)) with the rigid bridging ligands pyrazine (pyz) or 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bpy) have been studied. Stable intercalative binding into CT DNA (calf thymus DNA) is indicated for the dppz complexes 1 and 3 by induced negative CD bands at about 300 nm and large viscosity increases, with the individual measurements being in accordance with intrastrand bis-intercalation for 3 and mono-intercalation for 1. The observed interruption of specific interresidue NOE cross peaks from the relevant nucleobase H6/H8 protons to the sugar H2′/H2″ protons of the preceding nucleotide is in accordance with bis-intercalation of complex 3 between the C3G18 and G4C17 base pairs and the T5A16 and A6T15 base pairs of the decanucleotide d(5′-CGCGTAGGCC-3′). Complexes 1 and 3 exhibit a greatly improved uptake by HT-29 (colon carcinoma) cells and significantly improved in vitro IC₅₀ values of 1.8 ± 0.1 and 3.8 ± 0.1 μM towards this cell line in comparison to the mononuclear complex [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl(dppz)](CF₃SO₃) (IC₅₀ = 7.4 ± 0.9 μM).     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel exo-methylene cyclopentanone tetracyclic diterpenoids as antitumor agents

The structure of exo-methylene cyclopentanone, which exists in nature tetracyclic diterpenoids products, has been proved to be an innate group for the treatment of cancer and inflammation. In this letter, four different scaffolds of tetracyclic diterpenoids including the structure exo-methylene cyclopentanone were synthesized from steviol and isosteviol and evaluated in vitro for their antitumor activity against three human cancer lines. Compounds 1a, 1b, 2b and 3b showed significant cytotoxicity, particularly, tetracyclic diterpenoids 2b, 3b were identified as the most potent and selective anticancer agents superior to adriamycin with IC₅₀ values of 0.9 μM and 1.5 μM, against Hep-G2 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, respectively.     

Design and synthesis of novel enhanced water soluble hydroxyethyl analogs of combretastatin A-4

Thirteen hydroxyethyl- analogs of combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) that contain the 1-(1′-hydroxyethyl)-1-(3″,4″,5″-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-(substituted phenyl)ethene framework were synthesized. Molecular modeling studies at the DFT level showed that compound 3j adopts a ‘twisted’ conformation mimicking CA-4. The cytotoxicity of the novel compounds against the growth of murine B16 melanoma and L1210 lymphoma cells in culture was measured using an MTT assay. Three analogs 3f, 3h, and 3j were active. Of these, 3j, which has the same substituents as CA-4 and IC₅₀ values of 16.1 and 4.1 μM against B16 and L1210 cells, respectively, was selected for further biological evaluation. The activity of 3j was verified by the NCI 60 cell line screen. Compound 3j causes microtubule depolymerization in A-10 cells with an EC₅₀ of 21.2 μM. Analog 3j, which has excellent water solubility of 479 μM, had antitumor activity in a syngeneic L1210 murine model.     

Synthesis and topoisomerase II inhibitory and cytotoxic activity of oxiranylmethoxy- and thiiranylmethoxy-chalcone derivatives

In order to find potential anticancer drug candidate targeting topoisomerases enzyme, we have designed and synthesized oxiranylmethoxy- and thiiranylmethoxy-retrochalcone derivatives and evaluated their pharmacological activity including topoisomerases inhibitory and cytotoxic activity. Of the compounds prepared compound 25 showed comparable or better cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines tested. Compound 25 inhibited MCF7 (IC₅₀: 0.49 ± 0.21 μM) and HCT15 (IC₅₀: 0.23 ± 0.02 μM) carcinoma cell growth more efficiently than references. In the topoisomerases inhibition test, all the compounds were inactive to topoisomerase I but moderate inhibitors to topoisomerase II enzyme. Especially, compound 25 inhibited topoisomerase II activity with comparable extent to etoposide at 100 μM concentrations. Correlation between cytotoxicity and topoisomerase II inhibitory activity implies that compound 25 can be a possible lead compound for anticancer drug impeding the topoisomerase II function.     

Remarkable photocytotoxicity in hypoxic HeLa cells by a dipyridophenazine copper(II) Schiff base thiolate

Copper(II) complexes [Cu(satp)(L)] (1-3) of a Schiff base thiolate (salicylidene-2-aminothiophenol, H₂satp) and phenanthroline bases (L), viz. 1,10-phenanthroline (phen in 1), dipyrido[3,2-d:2′,3′-f]quinoxaline (dpq in 2) and dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine (dppz in 3), were prepared, characterized and their anaerobic DNA photocleavage activity and hypoxic photocytotoxicity studied. The redox active complexes show the Cu(II)-Cu(I) couple near − 0.5 V for 1 and near 0.0 V vs. SCE (saturated calomel electrode) for 2 and 3. The one-electron paramagnetic complexes (~ 1.85 μ_B) are avid DNA binders giving K_b values within 1.0 × 10⁵ − 8.0 × 10⁵ M^− 1. Thermal melting and viscosity data along with molecular docking calculations suggest DNA groove and/or partial intercalative binding of the complexes. The complexes show anaerobic DNA cleavage activity in red light under argon via type-I pathway, while DNA photocleavage in air proceeds via hydroxyl radical pathway. The DFT (density functional theory) calculations reveal a thyil radical pathway for the anaerobic DNA photocleavage activity and suggest the possibility of generation of a transient copper(I) species due to bond breakage between the copper and sulfur to generate the thyil radical. An oxidation of the copper(I) species is likely by oxygen in an aerobic medium or by the buffer medium in an anaerobic condition. Complex 3 exhibits significant photocytotoxicity in HeLa cells (IC₅₀ = 8.3(± 1.0) μM) in visible light, while showing lower dark toxicity (IC₅₀ = 17.2(± 1.0) μM). A significant reduction in the dark toxicity is observed under hypoxic cellular conditions (IC₅₀ = 30.0(± 1.0) μM in dark), while retaining its photocytotoxicity (IC₅₀ = 8.0(± 1.0) μM).