The synthesis and evaluation of a new series of IsoCombretaQuinolines (IsoCoQuines) 2 with a 2-substituted-quinoline in place of the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl ring present in isoCA-4 and CA-4 are described. Most of these compounds displayed a potent cytotoxic activity (IC < 10 nM) against a panel of five human cancer cell lines and inhibited tubulin assembly at a micromolar level. The most potent analogue 2b, having a 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl as B-ring, led to cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. Docking studies indicate that 2b showed a binding mode comparable to those previously observed with quinazoline analogous (IsoCoQ) and with isoCA-4 at the colchicine binding site of tubulin.

We report the synthesis and metabolic and biological evaluation of a series of 17 novel heterocyclic derivatives of isocombretastatin-A4 (iso-CA-4) and their structure−activity relationships. Among these derivatives, the most active compound, 4f, inhibited the growth of a panel of seven cancer cell lines with an IC 50 in the low nanomolar range. In addition, 4f showed interesting activity against CA-4-resistant colon-carcinoma cells and multidrug-resistant leukemia cells. It also induced G 2 /M cell-cycle arrest. Structural data indicated binding of 4f to the colchicine site of tubulin, likely preventing the curved-tostraight tubulin structural changes that occur during microtubule assembly. Also, 4f disrupted the blood-vessel-like assembly formed by human umbilical-vein endothelial cells in vitro, suggesting its function as a vascular-disrupting agent. An in vitro metabolism study of 4f showed its high human-microsomal stability in comparison with that of iso-CA-4. The physicochemical properties of 4f may be conducive to CNS permeability, suggesting that this compound may be a possible candidate for the treatment of glioblastoma.

A convergent and effective synthesis of 3-aryl-indoles, 2,3-diaryl indoles, and (1-arylvinyl)carbazoles from a one-pot sequence involving the coupling of N-tosylhydrazones with ortho-nitro-haloarenes followed by a cyclization has been developed. Compound 5i exhibits excellent antiproliferative activity in the low nM range against colon cancer cell lines.

We report the dramatic impact of the addition of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) on the reactivity and selectivity of heterogeneous Ru catalysts in the context of C−H activation reactions. Using a simple and robust method, we prepared a series of new air‐stable catalysts starting from commercially available Ru on carbon (Ru/C) and differently substituted NHCs. Associated with C−H deuteration processes, depending on Ru/C‐NHC ratios, the chemical outcome can be controlled to a large extent. Indeed, tuning the reactivity of the Ru catalyst with NHC enabled: 1) increased chemoselectivity and the regioselectivity for the deuteration of alcohols in organic media; 2) the synthesis of fragile pharmaceutically relevant deuterated heterocycles (azine, purine) that are otherwise completely reduced using unmodified commercial catalysts; 3) the discovery of a novel reactivity for such heterogeneous Ru catalysts, namely the selective C‐1 deuteration of aldehydes.

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A scalable synthesis of Pd-NHC cinnamyl complexes supported on a benzyloxycalix[8]arene is reported. These catalysts are very active for Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling reactions, allowing the coupling of aryl chlorides and bromides...

O.P.) and/or mouad.alami@u-psud.fr (M.A.) ‡ These authors contributed equally Abstract The synthesis and evaluation of a series of N,N-bis-heterocyclic-methylamines 1 as isoazaerianin analogues are descriebed. It was demonstrated that the replacement of the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl A-ring present in CA-4, isoCA-4and isoazaerianin by a quinoline or a quinazoline ring is possible and often beneficiary for a high level of cytotoxicity.We have also showed that a carbazole or an indole nucleus are very effective as B-rings in this series, leading to anticancer drugs 1 having a sub-nanomolar level of cytotoxicity (1a: IC50 = 70 pM against HCT116 cells). 1a also display a high level of cytotoxicity against four other human cancer cells and inhibited tubulin assembly at a micromolar level.Moreover, at a concentration of 5 nM, 1a arrested the cellular cycle in G2/M phase of the cellular cycle and induced apoptosis of HCT116 cells. It was also showed that after few hours 1a at a concentration of 10 nM totally disrupted endothelial network formation on Matrigel.

We report the dramatic impact of the addition of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) on the reactivity and selectivity of heterogeneous Ru catalysts in the context of C−H activation reactions. Using a simple and robust method, we prepared a series of new air‐stable catalysts starting from commercially available Ru on carbon (Ru/C) and differently substituted NHCs. Associated with C−H deuteration processes, depending on Ru/C‐NHC ratios, the chemical outcome can be controlled to a large extent. Indeed, tuning the reactivity of the Ru catalyst with NHC enabled: 1) increased chemoselectivity and the regioselectivity for the deuteration of alcohols in organic media; 2) the synthesis of fragile pharmaceutically relevant deuterated heterocycles (azine, purine) that are otherwise completely reduced using unmodified commercial catalysts; 3) the discovery of a novel reactivity for such heterogeneous Ru catalysts, namely the selective C‐1 deuteration of aldehydes.