title: Synthesis and evaluation of electron-rich curcumin analogues.
abstract: The natural product curcumin has long been recognized for its medicinal properties and is utilized for the treatment of many diseases. However, it remains unknown whether this activity is based on its presumably promiscuous scaffold, or if it results from the Michael acceptor properties of the alpha,beta-unsaturated 1,3-diketone moiety central to its structure. To probe this issue, electron-rich pyrazole and isoxazole analogues were prepared and evaluated against two breast cancer cell lines, which resulted in the identification of several compounds that exhibit low micromolar to mid nanomolar anti-proliferative activity. A conjugate addition study was also performed to compare the relative electrophilicity of the diketone, pyrazole and isoxazole analogues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Malott 4070, Lawrence, KS 66045-7563, USA.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Amolins
authors.forename: Laura B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Brian S J
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Blagg
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D004583:Electrons; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D011720:Pyrazoles; D003474:Curcumin