Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Studies of New (Dimethylamino)‐Functionalised and 7‐Azaindole‐Substituted ‘Titanocene’ Anticancer Agents (7‐Azaindole=1H‐Pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridine)

From the carbolithiation of 1‐(cyclopenta‐2,4‐dien‐1‐ylidene)‐N,N‐dimethylmethanamine (=6‐(dimethylamino)fulvene; 3 ) and different lithiated azaindoles 2 (1‐methyl‐7‐azaindol‐2‐yl, 1‐[(diethylamino)methyl]‐7‐azaindol‐2‐yl, and 1‐(methoxymethyl)‐7‐azaindol‐2‐yl), the corresponding lithium cyclopentadienide intermediates 4a – 4c were formed (7‐azaindole=1H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridine). The latter underwent a transmetallation reaction with TiCl₄ resulting in the (dimethylamino)‐functionalised ‘titanocenes’ 5a – 5c . When the ‘titanocenes’ 5a – 5c were tested against LLC‐PK cells, the IC₅₀ values obtained were of 8.8, 12, and 87 μM , respectively. The most cytotoxic ‘titanocene’, 5a , with an IC₅₀ value of 8.8 μM is nearly as cytotoxic as cis‐platin, which showed an IC₅₀ value of 3.3 μM when tested on the epithelial pig kidney LLC‐PK cell line, and ca. 200 times better than ‘titanocene dichloride’ itself.     

The synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of a series of benzodioxole substituted titanocenes

Using 6‐benzo[1,3]dioxolefulvene ( 1a ), a series of benzodioxole substituted titanocenes was synthesized. The benzyl‐substituted titanocene bis[(benzo[1,3]dioxole)‐5‐methylcyclopentadienyl] titanium (IV) dichloride ( 2a ) was synthesized from the reaction of Super Hydride with 1a . An X‐ray determined crystal structure was obtained for 2a . The ansa‐titanocene {1,2‐di(cyclopentadienyl)‐1,2‐di‐(benzo[1,3]dioxole)‐ethanediyl} titanium(IV) dichloride ( 2b ) was synthesized by reductive dimerisation of 1a with titanium dichloride. The diarylmethyl substituted titanocene bis(di‐(benzo[1,3]dioxole)‐5‐methylcyclopentadienyl) titanium(IV) dichloride ( 2c ) was synthesized by reacting 1a with the para‐lithiated benzodioxole followed by transmetallation with titanium tetrachloride. When titanocenes 2a–c were tested against pig kidney (LLC‐PK) cells inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of 2.8 × 10^?4, 1.6 × 10^?4 and 7.6 × 10^?5 M , respectively, were observed. These values represent improved cytotoxicity against LLC‐PK, when compared with unsubstituted titanocene dichloride, but are not as impressive as values obtained for titanocenes previously synthesized using the above methods. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of Halogen Substitution in the Ligand Sphere on the Antitumor and Antibacterial Activity of Half‐sandwich Ruthenium(II) Complexes [RuX(η6‐arene)(C5H4N‐2‐CH=N‐Ar)]+

New complexes [(η⁶‐p‐cymene)Ru(C₅H₄N‐2‐CH=N–Ar)X]PF₆ [X = Br ( 1 ), I ( 2 ); Ar = 4‐fluorophenyl ( a ), 4‐chlorophenyl ( b ), 4‐bromophenyl ( c ), 4‐iodophenyl ( d ), 2,5‐dichlorophenyl ( e )] were prepared, as well as 3a – 3e (X = Cl) and the new complexes [(η⁶‐arene)RuCl(N‐N)]PF₆ (arene = C₆H₅OCH₂CH₂OH, N‐N = 2,2′‐bipyridine ( 4 ), 2,6‐(dimethylphenyl)‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐methylene amine ( 5 ), 2,6‐(diisopropylphenyl)‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐methylene amine ( 6 ); arene = p‐cymene, N‐N = 4‐(aminophenyl)‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐methylene amine ( 7 )]. X‐ray diffraction studies were performed for 1a , 1b , 1c , 1d , 2b , 5 , and 7 . Cytotoxicities of 1a – 1d and 2 were established versus human cancer cells epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco‐2) (IC₅₀: 35.8–631.0 μM), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) (IC₅₀: 36.3–128.8.0 μM), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) (IC₅₀: 60.6–439.8 μM), 3a – 3e were tested against HepG2 and Caco‐2, and 4 – 7 were tested against Caco‐2. 1 – 7 were tested against non‐cancerous human epithelial kidney cells. 1 and 2 were more selective towards tumor cells than the anticancer drug 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU), but 3a – 3e (X = Cl) were not selective. 1 and 2 had good activity against MCF7, some with lower IC₅₀ than 5‐FU. Complexes with X = Br or I had moderate activity against Caco‐2 and HepG2, but those with Cl were inactive. Antibacterial activities of 1a , 2b , 3a , and 7 were tested against antibacterial susceptible and resistant Gram‐negative and ‐positive bacteria. 1a , 2b , and 3a showed activity against methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MIC = 31–2000 μg · mL^–1).     

Synthesis and Cytotoxic and Antiplatelet Activities of Dibenzofuran‐ and Carbazole‐Substituted Oximes

The dibenzofuran‐ and carbazole‐substituted oximes or methyloximes 5 – 10 were prepared and evaluated for their cytotoxic and antiplatelet activities. These compounds were synthesized via alkylation of dibenzofuran‐2‐ol or 9H‐carbazol‐2‐ol with α‐halocarbonyl reagents, followed by reaction with NH₂OH or NH₂OMe (Scheme). A preliminary anticancer assay indicated that the oxime‐type dibenzofuran derivatives 5 and 7a – d are active, while the corresponding oxime ethers 9b and 9c are inactive at the same concentration. Therefore, a H‐bond‐donating group seems to be crucial for cytotoxicity. Among the compounds tested, 2‐[(dibenzo[b,d]furan‐2‐yl)oxy]‐1‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)ethan‐1‐one O‐methyloxime ( 9c ) exhibited potent inhibitory activity against platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid, with an IC₅₀ value of 14.87 μM , without being cytotoxic at a concentration of 100 μM .     

Heteroaryl substituted ansa‐titanocene anti‐cancer drugs derived from fulvenes and titanium dichloride

Starting from 2‐furylfulvene (1a) , 2‐thiophenylfulvene (1b) , and 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolylfulvene (1c), [1,2‐di(cyclopentadienyl)‐1,2‐di‐(2‐furyl)ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (2a) , [1,2‐di(cyclopentadienyl)‐1,2‐di‐(2‐thiophenyl)ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (2b) , and [1,2‐di(cyclopentadienyl)‐1,2‐bis‐(1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolyl)ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (2c) were synthesized. When titanocenes (2a–c) were tested against pig kidney carcinoma cells (LLC‐PK), inhibitory concentrations (50%) of 4.5 × 10^?4 M , 2.9 × 10^?4 M and 2.0 × 10^?4 M respectively were observed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of new dimethylamino-functionalised and heteroaryl-substituted titanocene anti-cancer drugs

From the carbolithiation of N,N-dimethylamino fulvene (3a) and different ortho-lithiated heterocycles (furan, thiophene and N-methylpyrrole), the corresponding lithium cyclopentadienide intermediate (4a-c) was formed. These three lithiated intermediates underwent a transmetallation reaction with TiCl₄ resulting in dimethylamino-functionalised titanocenes 5a-c. When these titanocenes were tested against LLC-PK cells, the IC₅₀ values obtained were of 240, and 28 μM for titanocenes 5a and 5b, respectively. The most cytotoxic titanocene 5c with an IC₅₀ value of 5.5 μM is found to be almost as cytotoxic as cis-platin, which showed an IC₅₀ value of 3.3 μM, when tested on the LLC-PK cell line, and titanocene 5c is approximately 400 times better than titanocene dichloride itself.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of novel anion‐exchanged Titanocene Y derivatives

Starting from the potential anticancer drug candidate Titanocene Y {bis‐[(4‐methoxybenzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride}, anion exchange experiments were performed using silver malonate (1a) or silver cyclobutane‐1,1‐malonate (1b) in order to yield bis‐[(4‐methoxy‐benzyl)cyclopentadienyl] titanium(IV) malonate (2a) and bis‐[(4‐methoxy‐benzyl)cyclopentadienyl] titanium(IV) cyclobutane‐1,1‐malonate (2b). In addition, Titanocene Y was reacted with salicylic acid (3a) or 3,5‐dinitro‐salicylic acid (3b) in the presence of diethylamine to synthesize bis‐[(4‐methoxy‐benzyl)cyclopentadienyl] titanium(IV) salicylate (4a) or bis‐[(4‐methoxy‐benzyl)cyclopentadienyl] titanium(IV) 3,5‐dinitro‐salicylate (4b). These titanocenes had their cytotoxicity investigated through preliminary in vitro testing on the LLC‐PK (pig kidney epithelial) cell line in an MTT‐based assay in order to determine their IC50 values. Titanocenes 2a–b and 4a were found to have IC50 values of 74 ( ± 13) µM , 18 ( ± 5) µM and 49 ( ± 11) µM on the LLC‐PK cell line, while compound 4b was found to have lost all its cytotoxic activity on this cell line. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New Substituted 1‐Aryl‐4,4,6‐Trimethyl‐3,4‐Dihydropyrimidine‐2‐(1H)Thiones; A Metal‐Free and Solvent‐Free Synthesis,Characterization, and Lymphoid Tyrosine Phosphatase Inhibition Studies

A series of fourteen 3,4‐dihydropyrimidine‐2‐thiones ( 3a–n ) were synthesized by a green protocol, and their structures were characterized by spectroanalytical data. The compounds were obtained in high yields by efficient annulation of mesityl oxide (4‐methylpent‐3‐en‐2‐one) with anilines in the presence of potassium thiocyanate. The reaction is essentially metal‐catalyst‐ and solvent‐free, as mesityl oxide itself is the solvent as well as the reactant. The compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit the lymphoid tyrosine phosphatase PTPN22, and 5 of the 14 compounds exhibited IC₅₀ values in the mid‐micromolar range, with the most potent hit being the compound 3d , having a methoxy substituent at the 2‐position of the phenyl ring with an IC₅₀ = 18 ± 1 μM, and second most potent compound ( 3c ) with an IC₅₀ value of 45 ± 3 μM, having methyl substituents at both 2‐ and 4‐position of the phenyl ring.     

Proliferative and antiproliferative effects in substituted titanocene anticancer drugs

Substituted titanocenes like ansa-titanocenes, diarylmethyl-substituted and benzyl-substituted titanocenes, are known for their cytotoxic potential and they can be synthesised using 6-arylfulvenes. Nevertheless, in the case of using 6-(4-morpholin-4yl-phenyl) fulvene (5a) or 6-{[bis-(2-methoxyethyl)amino]phenyl} fulvene (5b) the synthetic possibilities seem to be limited, but the morpholino and the bis-(2-methoxyethyl)amino substituent are in terms of an improved water solubility and drug availability in the cell very interesting groups. The corresponding benzaldehydes, which are the starting material for the synthesis of these fulvenes, were not commercially available and therefore, a modified synthetic approach had to be introduced. Nevertheless, the reactivity of the obtained fulvenes was unexpected and only the ansa-titanocene bis-[{[bis-(2-methoxyethyl)amino]phenyl}cyclopentadienyl] titanium(IV) dichloride (6b) and the benzyl-substituted titanocene [1,2-di(cyclopentadienyl)-1,2-di(4-morpholin-4yl-phenyl)-ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (8a) could be obtained and characterised. When the benzyl-substituted titanocene (8a) was tested against pig kidney cells (LLC-PK) an anti-proliferative effect, resulting in an IC₅₀ value of 25 μM, was observed. This IC₅₀ value is in the lower range of the cytotoxicities evaluated for titanocenes up to now. The ansa-titanocene (6b) showed surprisingly, when tested on the same cell line, a proliferative effect.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of new dimethylamino-functionalised and indolyl-substituted titanocene anti-cancer drugs

Abstract From the carbolithiation of 6-N,N-dimethylamino fulvene (3a) and different ortho-lithiated indole derivatives (5-methoxy-N-methylindole, N-methylindole and N,N-dimethylaminomethylindole), the corresponding lithium cyclopentadienide intermediate (4a–c) was formed. These three lithiated intermediates underwent a transmetallation reaction with TiCl₄ resulting in dimethylamino-functionalised titanocenes (5a–c). When these titanocenes were tested against LLC-PK cells, the IC₅₀ values obtained were of 37 and 71 μM for titanocenes 5a and 5b respectively. The most cytotoxic titanocene in this paper, 5c showed an IC₅₀ value of 8.4 μM is found to be almost as cytotoxic as cis-platin, which showed an IC₅₀ value of 3.3 μM, when tested on the LLC-PK cell line, and titanocene 5c is approximately 250 times better than titanocene dichloride itself. Graphical Abstract Bis-(N,N-dimethylamino-2-(N-methylindolyl)methylcyclopentadienyl) titanium (IV) dichloride was synthesised starting from 2-(N-methylindolyl) lithium and 6-N,N-dimethylamino fulvene. Herein, we present the synthesis and DFT structure of the titanocene and two further derivatives followed by MTT-based cytotoxicity tests on LLC-PK cells.      

Synthesis and Cytotoxicity in Vitro of N‐Aryl‐4‐(tert‐butyl)‐5‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)thiazol‐2‐amine

A series of novel N‐aryl‐4‐(tert‐butyl)‐5‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)thiazol‐2‐amines synthesized in a green way. H₂O₂‐NaBr Brominating circulatory system was used in the synthesis of the key intermediate in a mild condition. All of the target compounds were confirmed by ¹H NMR and elemental analysis and tested for their cytotoxicity against two different human cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicity assay revealed that some of the title compounds showed moderate to strong cytotoxic activities. Compound 2i was the most potent compound with the IC₅₀ values of 9 μM against Hela cells and 15 μM against Bel–7402 cells, respectively.     

Peripheral or nonperipheral tetra‐[4‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)phenoxy] substituted cobalt(II), manganese(III) phthalocyanines: Synthesis,acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase,and α‐glucosidase inhibitory effects and anticancer activities

In this work, peripheral or nonperipheral tetra‐[4‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)phenoxy] substituted cobalt(II), manganese (III) phthalocyanines were synthesized for the first time. Their acetylcholinesterase from Electrophorus electricus (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase equine serum (BuChE), and α‐glucosidase Saccharomyces cerevisiae inhibition were investigated spectrophotometrically. Finally, in vitro cytotoxicities of the compounds were investigated on human neuroblastoma (SH‐SY5Y) cell line using MTT cell viability assay. The compounds inhibited to enzymes in the range of 7.39 ± 0.25–35.29 ± 2.49 μM with IC₅₀ values for AChE and 14.38 ± 0.66–58.02 ± 4.94 μM for BuChE as compared with galantamine, which used as a positive control. For α‐glucosidase, all compounds had stronger inhibition action than acarbose according to the IC₅₀ values. The IC₅₀ values of N? Co and N? Mn were found to be 3.05 ± 0.10 and 15.82 ± 1.85 μM, respectively. The results of cytotoxicity showed that the IC₅₀ values were above 100 μM showing the compounds had low cytotoxic action against SH‐SY5Y cell line for 24 h. Overall, carbazole substituted nonperipheral compounds can be considered as a potential agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's diseases and diabetes mellitus.     

Four New 1,4‐Benzoquinone Derivatives and One New Coumarin Isolated from Ardisia gigantifolia

Four new 1,4‐benzoquinone derivatives, belamcandaquinones J ( 1 ), K ( 2 ), L ( 3 ), and M ( 4 ), and one new coumarin, 5 , were isolated from the rhizome of Ardisia gigantifolia. Their structures were established by means of spectroscopic methods, and their cytotoxicity was tested in vitro against the cell lines PC‐3, EMT6, A549, Hela, RM‐1, and SGC7901. In comparison with cisplatin, compound 5 showed strong cytotoxicity with an IC₅₀ value of <30 μM against the cell lines PC‐3 and A549. Compounds 1 – 4 showed no cytotoxicity against all cell lines.     

(1S,2S,3R,6R)‐6‐Aminocyclohex‐4‐ene‐1,2,3‐triol (= (−)‐Conduramine B‐1) Is a Selective Inhibitor of α‐Mannosidases. Its Inhibitory Activity Is Enhanced by N‐Benzylation

(−)‐ and (+)‐Conduramine B‐1 ((−)‐ and (+)‐ 5 , resp.) have been derived from (+)‐ and (−)‐7‐oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐5‐en‐2‐one (‘naked sugars’ of the first generation). Although (−)‐ 5 imitates the structure of β‐glucosides, it does not inhibit β‐glucosidases but inhibits α‐mannosidases selectively. N‐Benzylation of (−)‐ 5 improves the potency of conduramine B‐1 as α‐mannosidase inhibitor and also generates compounds inhibiting β‐glucosidases. For instance, (−)‐N‐benzyl‐conduramine B‐1 ((−)‐ 19a ) is a competitive inhibitor of β‐glucosidase from almonds (IC₅₀ = 32 μM , K_i = 10 μM ) and a weak inhibitor of α‐mannosidases from jack bean (IC₅₀ = 171 μM ) and from almonds (IC₅₀ = 225 μM ) whereas (−)‐N‐(4‐phenylbenzyl)conduramine B‐1 ((−)‐ 19g ) is a good inhibitor of α‐mannosidase from jack beans (IC₅₀ = 29 μM , K_i = 4.8 μM ) and a weaker inhibitor of β‐glucosidase from almonds (IC₅₀ = 32 μM , K_i = 7.8 μM ) (Table 1).     

Synthesis and anti‐HIV activity of n‐(3‐amino‐3,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxopyrimidin‐2‐yl)‐4‐chloro‐2‐mercapto‐5‐methylbenzenesulfonamide derivatives

A series of N‐(3‐amino‐3,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxopyrimidin‐2‐yl)‐4‐chloro‐2‐mercapto‐5‐methylbenzenesulfonamide derivatives 10‐17 have been synthesized as potential anti‐HIV agents. The in vitro anti‐HIV‐1 activity of these compounds has been tested at the national Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD), and the structure‐activity relationships are discussed. The selected N‐[3‐amino‐3,4‐dihydro‐6‐(tert‐butyl)‐4‐oxothieno[2,3‐e]pyrimidin‐2‐yl]‐4‐chloro‐2‐metcapto‐5‐methylbenzenesulfonamide ( 14 ) showed good anti‐HIV‐1 activity with 50% effective concentration (EC₅₀) value of 15 μM and weak cytotoxic effect (IC₅₀ = 106 μM).     

Design,Sonosynthesis, Quantum‐Chemical Calculations,and Evaluation of New Mono‐ and Bis‐pyridine Dicarbonitriles as Antiproliferative Agents

A highly efficient, simple, and clean single‐step sonosynthetic procedure has been sophisticated for assembling new series of mono‐ and bis‐pyridine dicarbonitriles from ketones, HCl, and tetracyanoethylene. The presented protocol is applicable for the preparation of a broad range of uniquely substituted pyridine dicarbonitriles and seems to be superior in comparison with other previously reported methods. The antiproliferative impact of the newly synthesized derivatives was screened towards three representative cancer cell lines (MCF‐7, A549, and HCT116). Most of the evaluated derivatives showed a moderate to excellent anti‐proliferative activity towards the selected cell lines. Of these, compounds 4h , 4k , 10 , 12a , and 12b showed both potent anticancer activity (IC₅₀<10 μM) and lower cytotoxic effect (IC₅₀ > 58 μM) on non‐tumorigenic cells (MCF‐10A and NCM460), suggesting their promising potential to be lead molecules for future antitumor drug discovery. The structure‐activity relationships have been also discussed. Moreover, quantum chemical studies based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) of the synthesized compounds were investigated and found to be consistent with the in vitro inhibitory activities.     

Effect of lipophilicity of wingtip groups on the anticancer potential of mono N‐heterocyclic carbene silver(I) complexes: Synthesis,crystal structures and in vitro anticancer study

A series of symmetrically n ‐alkyl‐substituted mono benzimidazolium salts with steady increase in n ‐alkyl chain length have been prepared by stepwise N ‐alkylation resulting in salts ( 1 – 8 ). The mono N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–Ag(I) complexes ( 9 – 16 ) derived from the respective salts were readily accessible by in situ deprotonation using Ag₂O. All the salts and the complexes were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and elemental analyses. Furthermore, the structures of salts 3 and 7 and complex 16 were elucidated using X‐ray crystallography, which established that this mono NHC–Ag(I) complex has a linear bis‐carbene arrangement (C₂–Ag). The proligands and the respective Ag(I) complexes were studied for their in vitro anticancer potential against human colon cancer cell line (HCT‐116) using 5‐fluorouracil as a standard. From the IC₅₀ values of all the tested compounds, it can be postulated that there is an influential relationship between the increase in chain length of the wingtip n ‐alkyl groups and the anticancer potential. The proligands 4 – 8 and their respective complexes 12 – 16 with long n ‐alkyl chain lengths (n  = 6–10) showed better IC₅₀ values (0.3–3.9 μM) than the standard drug with the complexes displaying markedly better antiproliferation activity against HCT‐116 cell line than the respective proligands and the standard drug (IC₅₀ = 10.2 μM).     

Functionalization of Quinazolin‐4‐ones Part 3: Synthesis,Structures Elucidation,DNA‐PK,PI3K,and Cytotoxicity of Novel 8‐Aryl‐2‐morpholino‐quinazolin‐4‐ones

A series of novel 8‐aryl‐2‐morpholino quinazolines ( 11a – n , 12a – d , 14a – f , and 15 ) were synthesized from the precursor 2‐thioxo quinazolin‐4‐ones 8 . The 8‐aryl‐2‐morpholino quinazolines compounds were assayed for DNA‐PK and PI3K. All compounds showed low DNA‐PK % inhibition activity at 10 μM compound concertation, and the most active was 8‐(dibenzo[b,d]thiophen‐4‐yl) 12d with 38% inhibition. Similar pattern of PI3K α, β, γ, and δ isoforms inhibition activity at 10 μM were observed. The most active isoform was PI3K δ of 41% inhibition for 8‐(dibenzo[b,d]furan‐4‐yl) compound 11 . Most compounds were less active than expected in spite of the strong structural resemblance to known inhibitors ( NU7441 , 3 , 4 , and 6 ). Loss of activity could be attributed to the tautomerization to the aromatic enol (4‐OH), which could specify that the important functional group for the activity is the 4‐carbonyl (C=O) group. Alternatively, the aromatization of the pyrimidine heterocyclic ring could alter the conformation, and thus binding site, of the 2‐morpholine ring, which could reduce the compound‐receptor hydrogen bonding to the morpholine 4‐oxygen. Selected compounds displayed appreciable cytotoxicity with 6‐chloro‐8‐(dibenzo[b,d]thiophen‐4‐yl)‐2‐morpholinoquinazolin‐4(1H)‐one 11j exhibiting the greatest activity with an IC₅₀ of 9.95 μM. Therefore, the mechanism of the cytotoxicity of compound 11j were not through DNA‐PK or PI3K inhibition activity.     

Synthesis,in vitro Antimicrobial,and Cytotoxic Activities of New 1,3,4‐Oxadiazin‐5(6H)‐one Derivatives from Dehydroabietic Acid

A series of new 1,3,4‐oxadiazin‐5(6H)‐one derivatives ( 6a–n ) of dehydroabietic acid were designed and synthesized as potential antimicrobial and antitumor agents. Their structures were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS, and elemental analyses. All the title compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against four bacterial and three fungal strains using the serial dilution method. Among them, compound 6e showed the highest antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 1.9 μg/mL. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxic activities of the title compounds were also assayed against three human carcinoma cell lines (MCF‐7, SMMC‐7721, and HeLa) through the MTT colorimetric method. As a result, compounds 6b , 6g , 6k, and 6m exhibited significant inhibition against at least one cell line with IC₅₀ values below 10 μM. Compound 6m was especially found to be the most potent derivative with IC₅₀ values of 2.26 ± 0.23, 0.97 ± 0.11, and 1.89 ± 0.31 μM against MCF‐7, SMMC‐7721, and HeLa cells, respectively, comparable to positive control etoposide.     

Bioguided Isolation and Antiproliferative Activity of Constituents from Smilax korthalsii A.D.C. Leaves

Ethyl acetate extract of Smilax korthalsii A.D.C. leaves exhibited antiproliferative activity on leukaemia carcinoma K562, hepatic liver cancer cells WRL and colorectal carcinoma with IC₅₀ of 125.20, 46.10 and 160.00 μM respectively. Isolation of the bioactive ethyl acetate extract of Smilax korthalsii A.D.C. leaves gave eight compounds; 3β‐hydroxyspirost‐5‐ene (diosgenin), 1 , β‐sitosterol, 2 , lup‐5,11,20‐trien‐23‐ol, 3 , uneicos‐9‐enoic acid, 4 , ethylheptadecan‐17‐oic‐9‐enoate, 5 , cis‐octadec‐9‐enoic acid, 6 , hexadec9‐enoic acid, 7 and 11‐methyltridec‐12‐en‐1‐ol, 8 . The isolated compounds were tested against four human cancer cell lines: leukaemia carcinoma, K‐562; hepatic liver cancer cells, WRL; colorectal carcinoma, COLO; and breast carcinoma, MCF‐7 using the MTT assay. Diosgenin 1 exhibited significant antiproliferative activity against all four cell lines (IC₅₀; K562=6.25, WRL=14.34, COLO=38.00, MCF‐7=12.40 μM), while compounds 3, 6 and 7 inhibited the growth of K‐562 at 20, 50 and 100 μM concentrations with IC₅₀ of 90.20, 75.92 and 50.72 μM respectively. Other isolated compounds also showed cytotoxic properties against K‐562, WRL and COLO, but showed low inhibition of MCF‐7.