Silyl modification of biologically active compounds. 12. Silyl group as true incentive to antitumour and antibacterial action of choline and colamine analogues

A series of triorganylsilyl(β‐dialkylaminoethoxy)silanes was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si NMR and mass spectroscopy. Comparative study of ²⁹Si resonance of newly synthesized compounds showed correlation between its value and substituent nature at the silicon atom, and is shifted upfield for β‐triorganyl(N,N‐dialkylaminoethoxy)silanes in comparison with corresponding methiodides, revealing weak N^…Si interaction for proper silanes. In vitro antitumour and antimicrobial properties were investigated. The biological activity data exhibited a marked enhancement of inhibitory activity on trialkylsilylation against tumour cell lines and all the test bacterial/fungal strains. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.