A Convenient Route To 1,2-Dibenzoyl-1-Arylethylenes

Synthesis of sulfonyl curcumin mimics exerting a vasodilatation effect on the basilar artery of rabbits

In order to discover novel small vasodilatory molecules for potential use in the treatment of vascular disease, we tested the vasodilatation effect of two types of synthetic curcumin mimics, amide type (3) and sulfonyl amide type (4), upon the basilar artery of rabbits. In general, the sulfonyl amide type mimic (4) is more potent than the amide type (3). Curcumin (1) and compounds 12 and 20 effectively dilated the basilar artery of white rabbits.

Synthesis of novel curcumin mimics with asymmetrical units and their anti-angiogenic activity

Novel curcumin mimics with asymmetrical units phenyl group with alkyl amide, chloro-substituted benzamide, or heteroaromatic amide moieties were synthesized and their anti-angiogenic activity was evaluated with the proliferation and tube formation inhibitory activity on the human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Compounds 5, 14, 17, and 18 showed potent growth inhibitory activity and tube formation inhibitory activity.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of angiogenesis inhibitors: aromatic enone and dienone analogues of curcumin

The quest to find new antitumor compounds is an ongoing research endeavor in many laboratories around the world. The use of small-molecule angiogenesis inhibitors promises to be a potentially effective method for cancer treatment and possible prevention. Many antiangiogenic compounds are in various stages of laboratory evaluations and clinical trials. Curcumin is a natural product that has exhibited potent antiangiogenic properties. Based on a simple pharmacophore model, using standard drug design concepts, aromatic enone and aromatic dienone analogues of curcumin were prepared and/or obtained commercially. These compounds were screened for antiangiogenic properties via an in vitro SVR assay and were found to inhibit cell proliferation.

Synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone bearing naphthalene and naphtho[2,1-b]furan derivatives

Naphthalene alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones exhibits a unique cytotoxicity profile. They are highly cytostatic for leukaemia cancer cells but are not cytocidal. For almost all the solid tumours tested, they are both cytostatic and cytocidal. Substitution of a bromo atom on either naphthalene or both naphthalene and gamma-phenyl moiety of the lactone enhanced potency while retaining the same cytotoxicity profile. The tricyclic naphtho[2,1-b]furan derivatives, prepared from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde in an efficient pathway, also possess the same cytotoxicity profile.