Synthesis and evaluation of a series of benzylaniline hydrochlorides as potential cytotoxic and antimitotic agents acting by inhibition of tubulin polymerization

• Published in: Journal of medicinal chemistry Vol. 36; no. 19; pp. 2817 - 2821
• Main Authors: Cushman, Mark, He, Hu Ming, Lin, Chii M, Hamel, Ernest
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 17.09.1993
• Subjects: Aniline Compounds - chemical synthesis; Aniline Compounds - chemistry; Aniline Compounds - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - chemical synthesis; Cell Division - drug effects; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Humans; Noncondensed benzenic compounds; Organic chemistry; Preparations and properties; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tubulin - metabolism; Tumor Cells, Cultured - drug effects; Antineoplastic agent; Antitubulin; Hydrochlorides; Benzylic compound; Biological activity; Secondary amine
• ISSN: 0022-2623; 1520-4804
• DOI: 10.1021/jm00071a012

Although certain substituted cis-stilbenes have displayed potent tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity and significant cytotoxicities in cancer cell cultures, these compounds have limited aqueous solubility and are therefore difficult to formulate for in vivo evaluation. A series of water-soluble N-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)aniline salts has therefore been synthesized in which the olefinic bridge of the stilbenes is replaced by an aminomethylene hydrochloride moiety. A relationship was found between the size of the substituent in the 4-position of the aniline ring and both antitubulin activity and cytotoxicity, such that the smaller the substituent, the greater the potency. The most promising of the newly synthesized compounds was 4-methyl-N-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)aniline hydrochloride, with an IC50 value of 3.5 microM for inhibition of tubulin polymerization and cytotoxicity for a wide variety of cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicities of the benzylaniline hydrochlorides correlated remarkably well with their antitubulin activities.