Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of 4‐Aryloxyquinazoline Derivatives as Potential Cytotoxic Agents

In the present study, novel 4‐aryloxyquinazoline derivatives were synthesized and screened for in vitro cytotoxicity on human cancer cell lines at 10 μM. Some of the synthesized compounds displayed moderate to significant and selective cytotoxic activity against various leukemia, melanoma, ovarian, breast, and colon cancer cell lines. (E)‐3‐(3,4‐Dimethoxyphenyl)‐1‐(4‐(quinazolin‐4‐yloxy)phenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one ( 9b ) was the most potent compound among all with an average growth inhibition of 70% against leukemia cancer cell lines. The compound also produced strong inhibition (75%) of colon cancer cell lines with 42.58% lethality of HCT‐116 cell line.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structures and Anticancer Activity of the New Chiral Mono‐ and Dinuclear Palladium(II) Complexes derived from (S)‐(‐)‐(1‐phenylethylimino)benzylphenylketone

The enantiopure ketoimine of benzil – the ( S )‐(‐)‐(1‐phenylethylimino)benzyl phenyl ketone ( 1 ) obtained under microwave irradiation in solvent‐free conditions – reacts with Na₂[PdCl₄] to give the new chiral mono‐ and dinuclear Pd‐complexes 2 and 3 , which have been partly characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies along with MS‐FAB⁺ spectrometry. The crystal and molecular structures of both complexes has been fully confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray studies. On the other hand, investigations in vitro of 2 and 3 have displayed growth inhibition against different classes of cancer: leukemia (K‐562 CML), colon cancer (HCT‐15), cancer breast (MCF‐7), central nervous system (U‐251 Glio) and prostate cancer (PC‐3) cell lines.     

Three New Homoisoflavanones from the Ophiopogon japonicus Ker‐Gawler (Liliaceae)

Three new homoisoflavanones, 1 – 3 , together with a known one, 4 , were obtained from the AcOEt extract of the tuberous roots of Ophiopogon japonicus (Liliaceae). They were identified as (3R)‐2,3‐dihydro‐7‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxy‐3‐(4‐methoxybenzyl)‐6,8‐dimethyl‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one ( 1 ), (3R)‐3‐(1,3‐benzodioxol‐5‐ylmethyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐7‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxy‐6,8‐dimethyl‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one ( 2 ), (3R)‐3‐(1,3‐benzodioxol‐5‐ylmethyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐7‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxy‐6‐methyl‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one ( 3 ), and ophiopogonanone A ( 4 ). Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive NMR‐spectroscopic and mass‐spectrometric analyses. The three new compounds are rare homoisoflavanones which contain a MeO group at C(5). Compounds 1 and 2 showed weak cytotoxicity against the HepG2 (human hepatoma G2), KB (human oral epidermoid carcinoma), and MCF‐7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cell lines in an MTT assay. Compound 3 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against HepG2 and MCF‐7, and moderate cytotoxicity against KB cell lines. Compound 4 showed moderate cytotoxicity against HepG2, KB, and MCF‐7 cell lines.     

Three New ent‐Labdane Diterpenoids from the Wood of Excoecaria agallocha Linn.

An extensive study of metabolites present in Excoecaria agallocha Linn . led to the isolation of three new ent‐labdane‐type diterpenoids, named agallochaexcoerins A–C ( 1 – 3 ), besides three known compounds. The skeleton present in compound 1 is rather unusual, containing of a seven‐membered lactone. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies and comparison with known related compounds. The isolated compounds 1 – 6 were not active against Raw 264.7 (macrophage‐like), K 562 (leukemia), and COLO 205 (colon) human carcinoma cell lines.     

Synthesis,characterization and anticancer activity of new palladacycles derived from chiral α‐diimines

Optically pure α‐diimines quantitatively obtained in solvent‐free conditions starting from 2,3‐butanedione and (S)‐(?)‐1‐phenylethylamine and (S)‐(?)‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)ethylamine, respectively, yielded the new chiral mono‐Pd complexes 2a–b, which have been partly characterized by IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopies along with MS‐FAB⁺ spectrometry. The crystal and molecular structure for palladacycle 2a has been fully confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray studies. Studies in vitro of 2a–b have displayed growth inhibition against different classes of cancer: leukemia (K‐562 CML), colon cancer (HCT‐15), breast cancer (MCF‐7), central nervous system (U‐251 Glio) and prostate cancer (PC‐3) cell lines. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Et3N‐Prompted Efficient Synthesis of Anthracenyl Pyrazolines and Their Cytotoxicity Evaluation against Cancer Cell Lines

A series of anthracenyl pyrazoline derivatives ( 3a – o ) were synthesized with an aim to evaluate their in vitro anticancer activities. Anthracenyl pyrazoline compounds were prepared by the reaction between various anthracenyl chalcones ( 1a – o ) and hydrazine hydrate ( 2 ). The reactions were carried out under reflux in the presence of triethylamine and ethanol for 24 h, and the obtained yields were from good to excellent (90–97%). The structure of each compound is well characterized by IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, elemental analyses, and mass spectroscopic technics, and the molecular structures of compounds 3d and 3e were solved by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallographic methods. The newly synthesized compounds ( 3a – o ) were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic studies against four human cancer cell lines MCF‐7 (breast cancer cell lines), SK‐N‐SH (neuroblastoma cancer cell lines), HeLa (cervical cancer cell lines), and HepG2 (liver cancer cell lines), and the screening results show strong cytotoxic effects for most of the synthesized compounds against the three cell lines except SK‐N‐SH cells. Notably, compounds 3a , 3j , 3l , 3m , 3n , and 3o showed a highly potential activity against HeLa cells (IC₅₀: 0.22, 0.3, 0.3, 0.10, 0.25, and 0.25 μM), while compounds 3i , 3k , 3l , and 3m showed a significant cytotoxic activity in HepG2 cells (IC₅₀: 0.22, 0.44, 0.40, and 0.22 μM), whereas compounds 3a , 3b , 3d , and 3e exhibit a promising cytotoxicity against MCF‐7 cells (IC₅₀: 0.73, 0.495, 0.493, and 0.66 μM).     

Synthesis,Spectral Characterization,and In Vitro Biological Evaluation of Some Novel Isoquinolinone‐based Heterocycles as Potential Antitumor Agents

A series of new N‐substituted isoquinolin‐1,3‐dione derivatives were prepared, starting from reaction of (Z)‐4‐((E)‐3‐phenylallylidene)isochromane‐1,3‐dione 4 with different nitrogen nucleophiles. The assigned structures of the prepared compounds were elucidated by spectral methods (IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectroscopy). Some of the newly prepared compounds were tested in vitro against a panel of three human tumor cell lines, namely, hepatocellular carcinoma (liver) HepG2, colon cancer HCT‐116, and mammary gland breast MCF‐7. Also, they were tested as antioxidants. Some of the tested compounds showed very strong cytotoxic activity with respect to the standard.     

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.     

Novel 5‐Methyl‐2‐[(un)substituted phenyl]‐4‐{4,5‐dihydro‐ 3‐[(un)substituted phenyl]‐5‐(1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline‐2‐yl)pyrazol‐1‐yl}‐oxazole Derivatives: Synthesis and Anticancer Activity

Eleven novel 5‐methyl‐2‐[(un)substituted phenyl]‐4‐{4,5‐dihydro‐3‐[(un)substituted phenyl]‐5‐(1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline‐2‐yl)pyrazol‐1‐yl}‐oxazole derivatives were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ESI‐MS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. All of the compounds have been screened for their antiproliferative activities against PC‐3 cell (human prostate cancer) and A431 cell (human epidermoid carcinoma cancer) lines in vitro. The results revealed that compounds 4g , 4j and 4k exhibited the strong inhibitory activities against the PC‐3 cell lines (with IC₅₀ values of 2.8±0.11, 3.1±0.10 and 3.0±0.06 μg/mL, respectively).     

Synthesis,structural characterization and in vitro cytotoxicity of diorganotin complexes with Schiff base ligands derived from 3‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthoylhydrazide

A series of diorganotin complexes with Schiff base ligands, (E)‐N′‐(5‐bromo‐2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthohydrazide, H₂L1, and (E)‐N′‐(5‐chloro‐2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthohydrazide, H₂L2, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of the complexes, [(5‐bromo‐2‐oxidobenzylidene)‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthohydrazidato]di(o‐chlorobenzyl)tin(IV) 6 and [(5‐chloro‐2‐oxidobenzylidene)‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthohydrazidato]dibutyltin(IV) 9, were determined through single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and revealed a distorted trigonal‐bipyramidal configuration. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the Schiff bases and their diorganotin complexes was also evaluated against several human carcinoma cell lines, namely HT29 (human colon carcinoma cell line), SKOV‐3 (human ovarian cancer cell line), MCF7 (hormone‐dependent breast carcinoma cell line) and MRC5 (non‐cancer human fibroblast cell line). [(5‐Bromo‐2‐oxidobenzylidene)‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthohydrazidato]dibutyltin(IV) 2 and [(5‐bromo‐2‐oxidobenzylidene)‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthohydrazidato]dibenzyltin(IV) 5 were the most active diorganotin complexes of H₂L1 ligand. Among the diorganotin complexes of H₂L2 ligand, [(5‐chloro‐2‐oxidobenzylidene)‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthohydrazidato]dicyclohexyltin(IV) 11 showed good cytotoxic activity against all the tested cell lines. As such, the above compounds can be considered agents with potential anticancer activities, and can therefore be investigated further in in vitro or in vivo anticancer studies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization,thermal behaviour,in vitro antimicrobial and anticancer activities of novel ruthenium tricarbonyl complexes containing monodentate V‐shaped Schiff bases

The interaction of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ with a novel family of monodentate V‐shaped Schiff base ligands (L^1–4; L¹: (E)‐1‐(4‐((4‐bromobenzylidene)amino)phenyl)ethanone, L²: (E)‐1‐(3‐(4‐(dimethylamino)benzylideneamino)phenyl)ethanone, L³: (E)‐1‐(4‐(4‐(dimethylamino)benzylideneamino)phenyl)ethanone, L⁴: (E)‐1‐(3‐(3,4‐dimethoxybenzylideneamino)phenyl)ethanone) in air under atmospheric pressure afforded the novel complexes [Ru(CO)₃(L^1–4)₂]. The parent ligands and their complexes were characterized using elemental analyses and spectroscopic techniques. In addition, the structure of the representative ligand L¹ was determined using single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The stereochemistry and theoretical optimization of the three‐dimensional geometry of the ligands and their complexes were justified. In vitro antimicrobial screening against bacterial stains Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and fungus Candida albicans was conducted. Cytotoxicity of the compounds as anti‐tumour agents was evaluated against liver carcinoma (HepG2), breast carcinoma (MCF7) and colon carcinoma (HCT‐116) cell lines relative to cisplatin and doxorubicin. The complexes showed variable in vitro cytotoxic activities against the three studied cell lines, with IC₅₀ values less than those of cis‐platin, and thus appear to be building blocks for promising anti‐tumour agents.     

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Bisabolane Sesquiterpenes from the Roots of Ligularia cymbulifera

The new pyrrolizidine alkaloid glycoside 1 , and the three new highly oxygenated bisabolane sesquiterpenes 4 – 6 , together with the two known pyrrolizidine alkaloids 2 and 3 , were isolated from the roots of Ligularia cymbulifera (W. W. Smith ) Hand .‐Mazz . Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, especially 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR data. The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1, 2 , and 4 – 6 were evaluated against hepatoma (BEL‐7402), human leukemia (HL‐60), human ovarian carcinoma (HO‐8910), and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (KB) cell lines (Tables 1–3). Compound 6 s howed weak cell‐growth inhibition of BEL‐7402 cell.     

Synthesis,Antiproliferative, and c‐Src Kinase Inhibitory Activities of 4‐Oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran Derivatives

A new class of 4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran derivatives were synthesized and their antiproliferative activity examined against a panel of three human cancer cell lines, that is, breast carcinoma (MDA‐MB‐468), ovarian adenocarcinoma (SK‐OV‐3), and colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT‐29). Two compounds, that is, 3‐hexyl‐7,8‐dihydroxy‐4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran and (E)‐ethyl 3‐(7‐methoxy‐4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐yl)acrylate were found to be potent against all three cancer cell lines studied at 50 μM concentration. Also, the inhibitory potency of the compounds was evaluated against active Src kinase. A few of these compounds exhibited modest Src kinase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 52–57 μM). Structure‐activity relationship studies with respect to the nature and position of substituents on the lead compounds could be further exploited for the design and development of more potent antiproliferative agents and/or Src kinase inhibitors.     

Tupisteroide A–C,three new polyhydroxylated steroidal constituents from the roots of Tupistra chinensis

Three new steroidal compounds with polyhydroxy groups, tupisteroide A–C (1–3), were obtained from the roots of Tupistra chinensis, together with one known compound (4) that was isolated from this plant for the first time. The structures of tupisteroide A–C were determined on the basis of one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy, including ¹H–¹H Correlation Spectroscopy, Heteronuclear Multiple Bond Correlation, and Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence experiments. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against A549, HepG2, and CaSki cancer cell lines in vitro. Among them, compounds 1, 2, and 4 did not show significant inhibitory activity, but compound 3 showed cytotoxicity against A549 cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 25.0 μM. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Novel 6‐Mercapto‐12‐phenethyl‐quinazolino[3,4‐a]quinazolinones

Novel 6‐mercapto‐12‐phenethyl‐quinazolino[3,4‐a]quinazolinone derivatives were synthesized through a user‐friendly five‐step reaction starting from isatoic anhydride. All products were characterized by IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and chemical analysis. All of them were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against two cell lines namely MOLT‐4 (human lymphoblastic leukemia) and MCF‐7 (human breast adenocarcinoma).     

Cytotoxic Isoprenylated Flavonoids from the Roots of Sophora flavescens

Three new flavonoids, which are isoprenylated by fused 2,2‐dimethyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran moieties, were isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens and named flavenochromanes A–C ( 1 – 3 ). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D‐NMR techniques. Flavenochromane C ( 3 ) showed strong cytotoxic activity against A549 (lung carcinoma), 1A9 (ovarian carcinoma), KB (epidermoid carcinoma of the nasopharynx), and KB‐Vin (drug‐resistant variant KB) cell lines with IC₅₀ values ≤1.7 μM , and significant activity against the MCF‐7 (breast adenocarcinoma) cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 3.6 μM . Flavenochromane B ( 2 ) displayed slightly lower inhibitory effects (IC₅₀ 3.2–6.9 μM ) as compared with 3 .     

Metal‐based antitumor,cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity: pharmacological evaluation of Knoevenagel condensate β‐diketone Schiff base thiosemicarbazone Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes

Knoevenagel condensate Schiff base ligands [L = 3‐cinnamalideneacetylacetone‐thiosemicarbazone (CAT)/3‐cinnama‐ lideneacetylacetoneethylthiosemicarbazone (CAET)/3‐cinnamalideneacetylacetonephenylthiosemicarbazone (CAPT)] and their copper/zinc complexes were synthesized. They were characterized by analytical and spectral techniques. From these data it was found that the ligands adopt square‐planar geometry on metalation with Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. To evaluate the antitumor and cytotoxic activity of the synthesized complexes in mice and human cancer cell lines, the antitumor activity of the complexes was evaluated against an Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) tumor model. The activity was assessed using survival time and short‐term in vitro cytotoxic activity. Oral administration of complexes (100 mg/kg) increased the survival time. The cytotoxic activity of complexes was evaluated using human breast cancer (MDA‐MB‐231), colon cancer (HCT‐116) and nonsmall lung cancer (NCI‐H‐23) cell lines. Both the complexes possessed significant antitumor and cytotoxic activity on EAC and human cancer cell lines. The in vitro antimicrobial screening effect of the investigated compounds was also tested against the various organisms by well diffusion method. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Some N-Alkoxycarbonyl-N″-benzoyl-benzamidrazones（p-toluamidrazones） and 1,3,5-Trisubstituted 1,2,4-Triazole Derivatives from N-Benzoylimidates and their Antimicrobial and Anticancer Screening Studies

Some new N-alkoxycarbonyl-N″-benzoyl-benzamidrazones （p-toluamidrazones） 3a-3d, and 1,3,5-trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazole 4a-4h derivatives by starting from N-benzoylbenzimidates or N-benzoyl-p-toluimidates. The structures of compounds 3 and 4 were established on the basis of elemental analyses, IR, ^1H NMR, ^13C NMR and UV data. Antimicrobial experiments of the compounds performed by using agar-well diffusion and broth microdilution methods revealed that only compounds 3a-3d, 4a and 4b showed inhibitory effect only on Candida albicans ATCC 60193. However, compound 4b had also specific antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. The other compounds showed neither antifungal nor antibacterial activities. Compounds 3a, 4a and 4b have been screened on three human tumor cell lines, breast cancer （MCF7）, non small cell lung cancer （NCI-H460）, and CNS cancer （SF-268） at the National Cancer Institute （NCI）, USA, which were found to exhibit low antiproliferative activity.     

Synthesis,characterization, and cytotoxic activity studies of new N4O complexes derived from 2-({3-[2-morpholinoethylamino]-N3-([pyridine-2-yl]methyl) propylimino} methyl)phenol

A new unsymmetrical five-coordinate Schiff base ligand (HL) with an N₄O donor set ( 2 ) has been prepared by condensation of N1-(2-morpholinoethyl)-N1-([pyridine-2-yl]methyl)propane-1,3-diamine with 2-hydroxy-benzaldehyde. Metal complexes [ML]ⁿ⁺ (M = Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Ag⁺, Fe³⁺, and Co²⁺ ( 3–10 ) were synthesized by the reaction of the ligand and metal salts in ethanol. The resulting products were characterized by elemental analyses, infrared, ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (in the case of Cd and Zn complexes), UV–Vis, electrospray ionization-mass spectrometric, and conductivity measurements. The structure of the complexes [ZnL](ClO₄) ( 3 ), [CdL](ClO₄) ( 4 ), and [CuL](ClO₄) ( 7 ) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The metal complexes were determined to have a distorted trigonal bipyramidal (Zn and Cd) or a distorted square pyramidal (Cu) geometry. The cytotoxic potential of each compound (1–10) against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer cells), PC-3 (prostate cancer cells), and WI-38 human normal lung fibroblast cells was evaluated using the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. Compounds 1, 2, and 10 did not display any activity toward any cell line tested. None of the compounds except compound 8 was cytotoxic toward PC-3. Compounds 4 and 8 showed the highest cytotoxic activity against the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Because compounds 3, 6, and 9 have similar half-maximal inhibitory concentration values against cancer cells and normal cells, these compounds displayed poor selectivity between cancer and normal cells. More importantly, it was observed that compound 5 acts differently toward different types of cell lines. For example, it displays lower cytotoxicity against the WI-38 normal cell line than it does against the MDA-MB-231 cell line.     

Synthesis and characterization of tributyltin derivatives from 4‐oxo‐4‐(arylamino)butanoic acids and their in vitro biological activity against cervical cancer cell lines

Uterine (cervix and corpus) cancer is one of the major causes of mortality in women in Mexico. Organotin carboxylated derivatives have shown high cytotoxic activity against various cell lines of human origin. We describe the synthesis of three new tri‐n‐butyltin derivatives from 4‐oxo‐4‐(arylamino)butanoic acids; their structures were confirmed using spectral data (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR and infrared), elemental analyses, mass spectrometry and X‐ray diffraction. All the tri‐n‐butyltin carboxylates exhibit ¹ J (^119/117Sn–¹³C) coupling satellites in solution and lie in the range 357 to 339 Hz, suggesting a tetrahedral geometry around the tin atom. The polymeric structures of two of the derivatives and the monomeric structure of another were confirmed using X‐ray crystallography. Using succinic anhydride as raw material, five N‐substituted succinamic acid compounds were synthesized by the acylation reaction with aniline, 4‐nitroaniline, 4‐nitro‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)aniline, 2‐amino‐5‐nitrothiazole and 4‐aminoantipyrine. From these compounds, five tin derivatives were prepared and their in vitro anti‐proliferative effect on HeLa, CaSki and ViBo cell lines was screened. All of the compounds showed potency against all three strains and null or low cytotoxic activity (necrotic) as well. The most potent of our derivatives as an anti‐proliferative agent against the three cell lines was tributylstannyl 4‐oxo‐4‐[(3‐trifluoromethyl‐4‐nitrophen‐1‐yl)amino]butanoate, exhibiting an IC₅₀ value of 0.43 μM against the HeLa cell line. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.