N. R. Penthala et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 23 (2013) 1442–1446
1445
orientation and conformation as compound 3k at the active site of
COX-2 (Fig. 4).
In conclusion, a series of novel substituted 5-((1-aroyl-1H-in-
dol-3-yl)methylene)-2-thioxodihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-
diones (3a–z) have been synthesized and evaluated for their anti-
cancer activity against a panel of 60 human tumor cell lines. In the
N-benzoyl substituted indole series (3a–s), the presence of a 5-
methoxy-N-benzoylindole moiety (3k and 3s) and an N-2-bromo-
benzoyl or N-4-methoxybenzoyl moiety afforded two molecules
with potent growth inhibition against human tumor cell lines. In
the N-naphthoylindole series (3t–y), the two N-1-naphthoylindole
analogs 3t and 3w also exhibited potent anticancer activity when
compared to their isomeric N-2-naphthoyl analogs (3x and 3z,
respectively). Representative cytotoxic analogs from both the N-
benzoyl substituted and the N-naphthoyl substituted series of thio-
barbiturate analogs (3k and 3w, respectively) have also been
shown to bind to the active site of COX-2 with strong hydrophobic
and hydrogen bonding interactions in molecular docking studies,
indicating high affinity for this oxygenase. The use of anti-inflam-
matory agents in combination with conventional anticancer thera-
pies is already gaining ground as a new approach for treating
certain cancers. Thus, these novel anticancer/anti-inflammatory
molecules may represent potentially new therapeutics for cancer
treatment.
Figure 3. Illustration showing compound 3w binding at the active site of COX-2.
Compound 3w is displayed in yellow color ball and sticks and the active site
residues are displayed in cyan color sticks.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to NCI/NIH (Grant Number CA 140409) and to
the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) for financial support, and
to the NCI Developmental Therapeutic Program (DTP) for screening
data.
References and notes
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15. Analytical data for two of the most active compounds (3k): MF: C22H17N3O5S, mp:
>300 °C, 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): d 3.74 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.90 (s, 3H, OCH3), 7.54–7.56
(dd, 2H, Ar–H), 7.98–8.05 (m, 2H, Ar–H), 8.17–8.19 (dd, 2H, Ar–H), 8.36 (s, 1H,
C4–H), 8.57 (s, 1H, @CH), 9.49 (s, 1H, C2-H), 12.31 (br s, 1H, NH), 12.48 (br s, 1H,
NH) ppm; 13C NMR (DMSO-d6): d 55.52, 55.56, 102.40, 110.63, 111.0, 113.72,
123.73, 125.88, 127.43, 128.62, 129.16, 129.45, 141.88, 155.10, 157.88, 161.28,
161.31, 162.53, 169.18, 178.42 ppm. (3w): MF: C25H17N3O4S, mp: >300 °C, 1H
NMR (DMSO-d6): d 3.91 (s, 3H, OCH3), 7.10–7.13 (d, 1H, ArH), 7.21 (s, 1H, @CH),
7.61–7.78 (m, 3H, Ar–H), 7.82–7.86 (d, 1H, Ar–H), 7.96–8.01 (d, 1H, Ar–H),
8.12–16 (d, 1H, Ar–H), 8.26–8.43 (dd, 2H, Ar–H), 8.49 (s, 1H, C4–H), 9.23 (s, 1H,
C2-H), 12.33 (br s, 1H, NH), 12.49 (br s, 1H, NH) ppm; 13C NMR DMSO-d6): d
55.48, 100.66, 114.49, 114.63, 115.33, 117.15, 124.22, 124.92, 126.93, 127.17,
127.93, 128.60, 129.40, 129.43, 130.48, 131.59, 131.73, 132.86, 138.92, 141.88,
157.27, 160.18, 161.46, 168.12, 177.62 ppm.
Figure 4. Illustration of the superimposition of binding modes of compounds 3k
and 3w. A close alignment of the carbon chain of both compounds is demonstrated.
Highlighted in the circle is the difference between the two compounds. Compound
3k is displayed in orange and compound 3w is displayed in yellow.
The superimposition of both compounds at the COX-2 active is
further shown in Figure 4. Thus, the binding of these compounds
with strong hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions at
the active site of COX-2 indicates high affinity for COX-2 ligands.
Interestingly, the new binding modes proposed herein by our
docking study further reveals that compound 3w binds in a similar
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