Anticancer activity and DNA binding property of the trimers of triphenylethylene-coumarin hybrids

Novel trimers of triphenylethylene-coumarin hybrid containing two amino side chains (5a-d and 6a-d) were designed and synthesized by the condensation of 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid with the varied amino monomeric hybrids catalyzed by HATU and DIPEA at room temperature.The extended trimeric compound 6a (R=piperidinyl) exhibited significant anti-proliferative activity against three cancer cells at IC₅₀ of near 10 μmol/L.UV-vis,fluorescence (lifetime) and thermal denaturation exhibited that 6a had significant interaction with Ct-DNA by the intercalative mode of binding.The order of their antiproliferative activities was 6(a,d) > 5(a,d) and (5-6)a > (5-6)d,respectively,in accordance with that of their DNA binding properties,which suggested that the prolonged linker (six carbons) and piperidinyl group on the side chains are beneficial to DNA binding and the anti-tumor activity.