Ultrasound-promoted two-step synthesis of 3-arylselenylindoles and 3-arylthioindoles as novel combretastatin A-4 analogues

Sci Rep. 2016 Apr 5:6:23986. doi: 10.1038/srep23986.

Abstract

A series of 3-(3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyphenyl)selenyl-5,6,7-trimethoxy-1H-indoles and 3-(3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyphenyl)thio-5,6,7-trimethoxy-1H-indoles were obtained as a new class of combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) analogues via a convenient ultrasound (US)-assisted two-step process involving 3-selenenylation/sulfenylation followed by O-deallylation. With the assistance of US irradiation, both the reaction rates and yields of selenenylation, sulfenylation and O-deallylation could be significantly improved. A comparison of the reaction rates of O-deallylation and ester reduction demonstrated that O-deallylation was more sensitive to US irradiation. Finally, these products were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities, and most of them showed moderate to potent activities against three human cancer cell lines in vitro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Bibenzyls / chemical synthesis*
  • Bibenzyls / chemistry
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / methods*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemical synthesis*
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Molecular Structure
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tubulin / chemistry
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemical synthesis
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemistry
  • Ultrasonography*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Bibenzyls
  • Indoles
  • Tubulin
  • Tubulin Modulators
  • combretastatin