Design, synthesis and anticancer properties of 5-arylbenzoxepins as conformationally restricted isocombretastatin A-4 analogs

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.ejmech.2012.12.042

A series of novel benzoxepins 6 was designed and prepared as rigid-isoCA-4 analogs according to a convergent strategy using the coupling of N-tosylhydrazones with aryl iodides under palladium catalysis. The most potent compound 6b, having the greatest resemblance to CA-4 and isoCA-4 displayed antiproliferative activity at nanomolar concentrations against various cancer cell lines and inhibited tubulin assembly at a micromolar range. In addition, benzoxepin 6b led to the arrest of HCT116, K562, H1299 and MDA-MB231 cancer cell lines in the G₂/M phase of the cell cycle, and strongly induced apoptosis at low concentrations. Docking studies demonstrated that benzoxepin 6b adopt an orientation similar to that of isoCA-4 at the colchicine binding site on β-tubulin.

Full text of DOI:10.1016/j.ejmech.2012.12.042

Accepted Manuscript
Design, synthesis and anticancer properties of 5-arylbenzoxepins as conformationally
restricted isoCombretastatin A-4 analogues
Evelia Rasolofonjatovo, Olivier Provot, Abdallah Hamze, Jordi Rodrigo, Jérome
Bignon, Joanna Wdzieczak-Bakala, Christine Lenoir, Déborah Desravines, Joëlle
Dubois, Jean-Daniel Brion, Mouad Alami
PII:
S0223-5234(12)00764-7
10.1016/j.ejmech.2012.12.042
EJMECH 5913
DOI:
Reference:
To appear in: European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Received Date: 25 October 2012
Revised Date: 18 December 2012
Accepted Date: 23 December 2012
Please cite this article as: E. Rasolofonjatovo, O. Provot, A. Hamze, J. Rodrigo, J. Bignon, J.
Wdzieczak-Bakala, C. Lenoir, D. Desravines, J. Dubois, J.-D. Brion, M. Alami, Design, synthesis
and anticancer properties of 5-arylbenzoxepins as conformationally restricted isoCombretastatin A-4
analogues, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2013), doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2012.12.042.
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ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
Graphical abstract
Design, synthesis and anticancer properties of 5-arylbenzoxepins as conformationally
restricted isocombretastatin A-4 analogues.
Evelia Rasolofonjatovo,a Olivier Provot,*a Abdallah Hamze,a Jordi Rodrigo,a Jérome Bignon,b Joanna
Wdzieczak-Bakala,b Christine Lenoir,b Déborah Desravines,b Joëlle Dubois,b Jean-Daniel Brion,a Mouad
Alami*a

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
Design, synthesis and anticancer properties of 5-
arylbenzoxepins as conformationally restricted
isoCombretastatin A-4 analogues
Evelia Rasolofonjatovo,a Olivier Provot,*a Abdallah Hamze,a Jordi Rodrigo,a Jérome Bignon,b Joanna Wdzieczak-Bakala,b Christine
Lenoir,b Déborah Desravines,b Joëlle Dubois,b Jean-Daniel Brion,a Mouad Alami*a
a Univ. Paris-Sud, CNRS, BioCIS-UMR 8076, LabEx LERMIT, Laboratoire de Chimie Thérapeutique, Faculté de Pharmacie, 5 rue
J.-B. Clément, Châtenay-Malabry, F-92296, France.
b Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, UPR 2301, CNRS avenue de la terrasse, F-91198 Gif sur Yvette, France.
*
Corresponding authors. Tel.: +33 1 46 83 58 47. Fax: +33 1 46 83 58 28. Email: olivier.provot@u-psud.fr (O.P.) or
mouad.alami@u-psud.fr (M.A.).
Abstract
A series of novel benzoxepins 6 was designed and prepared as rigid-isoCA-4 analogues according to a convergent strategy using the
coupling of N-tosylhydrazones with aryl iodides under palladium catalysis. The most potent compound 6b, having the greatest
resemblance to CA-4 and isoCA-4 displayed antiproliferative activity at nanomolar concentrations against various cancer cell lines
and inhibited tubulin assembly at a micromolar range. In addition, benzoxepin 6b led to the arrest of HCT116, K562, H1299 and
MDA-MB231 cancer cell lines in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, and strongly induced apoptosis at low concentrations. Docking
studies demonstrated that benzoxepin 6b adopt an orientation similar to that of isoCA-4 at the colchicine binding site on β-tubulin.
Keywords: Benzoxepin, Combretastatin, isoCA-4, Tubulin, Cytotoxicity, Apoptosis, Cancer
1

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1. Introduction
Combretastatin A-4 (CA-4, Figure 1), a natural stilbene isolated by Pettit[1] from the South African tree Combretum caffrum, is
potently cytotoxic against a variety of cancer cells, including multidrug-resistant cell lines.[2,3] CA-4, which binds on β-tubulin at
the colchicine binding site, is also an exceptionally strong inhibitor of tubulin polymerization with an IC50 value of 1.0 µM.[4]
Disruption of tubulin assembly results in rapid tumor endothelial cell damage followed by neovascular shutdown, and subsequent
hemorrhagic necrosis.[5] A great interest in CA-4 is reflected in the fact that the water soluble phosphate prodrug CA-4P
(fosbretabulin, 1b)[6,7] is currently used for advanced anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, even if some vascular side effects were
reported.[8,9] Despite its remarkable anticancer activity, CA-4 isomerizes into its inactive (E)-isomer[10] during storage,
administration[11] and metabolism[12] leading to a significant loss of potency. The poor bioavailability and solubility in biological
media associated with the Z to E-isomerization drawback,[11] together with the structural simplicity of CA-4, makes it very
interesting from a medicinal chemistry point of view, thus stimulating the search for new and more potent compounds with improved
pharmacological properties[13,14] Considerable effort has been gone into modifying the isomerizable cis carbon-carbon double
bond. Several reviews outlined this vast array of chemistry focusing on the stabilization of the two aryl rings of CA-4 using one to
three atom bridgeheads.[15-20]
<Figure 1>
Figure 1. Representative inhibitors of tubulin polymerization and rational drug design from CA-4 and isoCA-4 to dihydrobenzoxepin
analogues 6.
In our efforts to discover novel CA-4 analogues having non-isomerizable linkers between the A- and B-rings,[21-26], we recently
synthesized a series of 1,1-diarylethylene derivatives[27-29] with general structure 2. The most active molecules in this series, isoCA-
4 (2a), isoNH2CA-4 (2b), isoFCA-4 (2c) and 2d displayed a nanomolar level of cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines,
inhibited tubulin polymerization (ITP) at a micromolar level, and arrested cancer cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle (Figure
1).[30-33] These 1,1-diarylethylene compounds 2 were found to be as active as their (Z)-1,2-ethylene isomers (CA-4 1a, NH2CA-4
1c, FCA-4 1d), clearly demonstrating that it is possible to replace the (Z)-double bond of CA-4 derivatives with a 1,1-ethylene unit
with no loss of efficacy.
IsoCA-4 was utilized as a starting point to design cyclic and heterocyclic derivatives 3-5 with restricted rotation to identify novel
compounds with improved anticancer activities. Inserting the double bond of isoCA-4 into 6-membered rings led to
(dihydro)naphtalene 3[34-36] and chromene 4[37,38] derivatives endowed with interesting anticancer activities (Figure 1). In 2008,
Pinney reported the synthesis of benzosuberenes of type 5[39,40] as highly cytotoxic agents, demonstrating that the double bond in
isoCA-4 could be successfully included in a 7-membered ring to maintain potent activity against various cancer cell lines. In
continuation of our earlier work, a novel series of restricted isoCA-4 derivatives 6 containing a 2,3-dihydrobenzoxepin ring was
designed. Herein we report the synthesis, the biological evaluation and the possible binding mode of 5-aryldihydrobenzo[b]oxepins
6.
2. Results and discussion
2.1. Chemistry.
The retrosynthetic analysis of the target 5-arylbenzoxepins 6 is outlined in Figure 2. We envisionned that the 5-aryl moiety in 6 could
be installed through palladium catalyzed coupling reactions starting from (i) vinylstannanes 7 (Stille coupling, path a), (ii) vinyl
iodides 8 (Suzuki coupling, path a), or (iii) N-tosylhydrazones 11 (path b) using a recent methodology developed by Barluenga and
us[41,42] (Figure 2). To build up the 7-membered heterocyclic ring of compounds 7 and 8, a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction
was planned as the key step from the corresponding diene derivatives 9, 10 and 13, respectively. An alternative route to 11 could be
an intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction starting from phenol 12.
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<Figure 2>
Figure 2. Retrosynthetic analysis of 5-aryldihydrobenzo[b]oxepins 6.
At the outset of this work, and according to path a (Scheme 1), we first studied the synthesis of diene 9a (R1 = R2 = H) through
regioselective addition of Bu3SnH on the alkyne triple bond[43] of terminal arylalkyne 14.[44] As expected, we were pleased to
observe a total regioselectivity in the palladium-catalyzed hydrostannylation of 14 leading exclusively to α-vinylstannane 9a in a
80% yield. Iododestannylation of 9a with molecular iodine in CH2Cl2 at room temperature afforded 10a (R1 = R2 = H) in a modest
and non-optimized yield of 45%. Unfortunately, despite attempting a plethora of RCM conditions using the Grubbs I, Grubbs II, and
Hoveyda-Grubbs catalysts (from 2% to 20%) in CH2Cl2, toluene at different temperatures (from 20 °C to reflux) and various
concentrations, no macrocyclization of dienes 9a and 10a was ever observed.
<Scheme 1>
Scheme 1. Synthesis of vinylstannane 9a and vinyliodide 10a. Reagent and conditions: a) PdCl2(PPh3)2 (2 mol%), Bu3SnH (1.2
equiv), THF, 20 °C; b) I2, CH2Cl2, 20 °C.
The synthesis of benzoxepin derivatives 6 was next envisioned according to path b involving an intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction
(Scheme 2). Initially, the compounds targeted 6b and 6c contain on the benzoxepin nucleus 9-hydroxy and 8-methoxy substituents
which are present in the isoCA-4 B-ring, and that were proved to be essential for bioactivity (Scheme 2).
<Scheme 2>
Scheme 2. Synthesis of dihydrobenzoxepins 6b,c. Reagent and conditions: a) MOMCl (2 equiv), iPr2NH (2 equiv), CH2Cl2; b) But-
3-yn-1-ol (1.1 equiv), PdCl2(PPh3)2 (8 mol%), CuI (15 mol%), Et3N; c) PTSA (1 equiv), H2O, 100 °C, sealed tube; d) DEAD (1.5
equiv), PPh3 (1.5 equiv), THF; e) TsNHNH2 (2.5 equiv), PTSA (20 mol%), EtOH reflux; f) Pd2dba3 (10 mol%), XPhos (20 mol%),
tBuOLi (2 equiv), ArI (1 equiv), 90 °C, sealed tube; g) AlCl3 (5 equiv), CH2Cl2.
Arylalkynol 17[45] was prepared from iodophenol 15 through a sequence of MOM-ether protection followed by a Sonogashira-
Linstrumelle coupling reaction[46,47] with homopropargylic alcohol. The triple bond of 17 was regioselectively hydrated in the
presence of PTSA[48-52] in water, and a subsequent intramolecular Mitsonobu reaction furnished the required benzoxepan-5-one 19
in a 63% yield. This latter was mixed with TsNHNH2 in the presence of PTSA to afford the key intermediate N-tosylhydrazone 11a,
which in turn was coupled with various aryl halides under Pd2dba3/XPhos as the catalytic system.[41,53] Accordingly,
trimethoxyphenylbenzoxepin 6a was formed in an excellent 98% yield.[54,55] Finally, the phenolic part of isopropylether 6a was
revealed by treatment with AlCl3 to give 6b but in a low 15% yield. Target molecule 6c, with a 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl nucleus as A-
ring, was also prepared from N-tosylhydrazone 11a, and the resulting crude coupling product treated with AlCl3 in CH2Cl2 furnished
the desired benzoxepin derivative 6c in a modest 25% yield.
For benzoxepin derivatives 6d-g having different substituents on C9, we envisioned their synthesis via a convergent approach
starting from N-tosylhydrazone 11b having a bromine atom at the C9 position, useful for subsequent functionalizations under
palladium catalysis (Scheme 3)[32,36,56]. To this end, we planned the construction of the 7-membered ring of 11b using RCM of
diene 13a. Briefly, benzaldehyde 21 was prepared from isovanillin through a sequence of regioselective N-methylpyrrolidin-2-one
hydrotribromide (MPHT) bromination[57,58] and allyl ether formation. Further reaction with vinylmagnesium chloride afforded
diene 13a, which underwent ring-closing olefin metathesis using the Grubbs II catalyst in CH2Cl2.[59] The resulting
dihydrobenzoxepin-5-ol 22 was subjected to a double bond reduction, PCC alcohol oxidation and then N-tosylhydrazone formation
to give 11b. Further palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction with 3,4,5-trimethoxyiodobenzene furnished the key 9-bromo-8-
methoxybenzoxepin 6d in a 68% yield. Having achieved efficient access to 6d, we then turned studying various means of
substitution on the C9-bromo atom. The bromo substituent of 6d was first exploited in a coupling reaction using sodium azide as the
amino source in the presence of a catalytic amount of CuI to give 6e (75%).[60,61] Debromination of 6d was achieved using
catalytic amounts of Pd(OAc)2, PPh3 and K2CO3 in hot nBuOH and produced 6f in 69% yield.[62] For the synthesis of 6g having a
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butyn-1-ol chain, 6d was coupled with but-3-yn-1-ol using PdCl2(PPh3)2 and CuI catalysts under microwave irradiation at 120 °C in
DMF (74%). Noteworthy that compound 6b was also prepared in an acceptable yield of 55% by treating 6d with KOH in the
presence of Pd2dba3 and tBuXPhos in a dioxane-H2O mixture according to a Buchwald protocol.[63] Finally, because the double
bond present in isoCA-4 can be reduced to furnish isoerianin derivatives with no loss of anticancer properties,[23] we next focused
our attention on the catalytic reduction of the carbon-carbon double bond of 6b and 6g. Thus, 5-aryltetrahydrobenzoxepins 25a and
25b were obtained in non-optimized yields using H2 in the presence of Pd/C in MeOH (Scheme 3).
<Scheme 3>
Scheme 3. Synthesis of dihydrobenzoxepins 6b, 6d-g and tetrahydrobenzoxepins 25a,b. Reagent and conditions: a) Hg(OAc)2 (1
equiv), NaBr (1 equiv), 50 °C, EtOH; b) MPHT (1 equiv), CH3CN; c) 3-bromoprop-1-ene (1.2 equiv), K2CO3 (1.2 equiv), CH3CN;
d) vinylmagnesium chloride (1.2 equiv), THF; e) Grubbs II catalyst, 5 mol%, CH2Cl2, 20 °C; f) H2, Pd/C, MeOH, AcOH cat.; g)
PCC, CH2Cl2; h) TsNHNH2 (1 equiv), PTSA (10 mol%), MgSO4 (1 equiv), EtOH, reflux; i) Pd2dba3 (10 mol%), XPhos (40 mol%),
tBuOLi (2 equiv), 3,4,5-trimethoxyiodobenzene (1.2 equiv), 90 °C, sealed tube; j) Pd2dba3 (5 mol%), tBuXPhos (15 mol%), KOH (3
equiv), dioxane-H2O, 90 °C, sealed tube; k) CuI (10 mol%), TMEDA (6 mol%), NaN3 (2 equiv), potassium ascorbate (6 mol%)
DMSO-H2O, 90 °C, sealed tube; l) Pd(OAc)2 (1 mol%), PPh3 (2.5 mol%), nBuOH, 100 °C, sealed tube; m) nBut-3-yn-1-ol (1.2
equiv), PdCl2(PPh3)2 (5 mol%), PPh3 (15 mol%), CuI (15 mol%), Et2NH (2 equiv), DMF, 120 °C, MWI.
2.2. Biological results.
2.2.1 In vitro cell growth assay
All the synthesized compounds were tested in a preliminary cytotoxic assay on a human colon carcinoma (HCT116) cell line using
CA-4,[64] and isoCA-4 as reference compounds.
<Table 1>
Table 1. Cytotoxic activity of dihydrobenzoxepins 6b-g and tetrahydrobenzoxepins 25a,b against HCT116[a]
In this assay, the benzoxepin derivatives 6 inhibited cellular growth to a varying degree. Except tetrahydrobenzoxepin 25b, having a
bulky butanol chain on C9 which was found inactive against HCT116 cells, all selected compounds displayed a nanomolar level of
cytotoxicity. Highest GI50 values were found for both bromine derivative (6d, GI50 = 170 nM) and compound 6g having a butyn-ol
chain on the C9 position (6g, GI50 = 250 nM) (Table 1). These functional groups on C9 were bulky, so next we examined smaller
substituents on the C9 position. The C9-OH benzoxepin derivative 6b, having the greatest resemblance to isoCA-4 is undoubtedly
the most cytotoxic compound in this series with a GI50 value of 1.5 nM slightly inferior to those of isoCA-4 (GI50 = 3 nM) and CA-4
(GI50 = 2 nM). Contrary to Ohsumi’s finding,[65] it appears that the introduction of a NH2 substituent on C9 result in weaker
cytotoxicity (6e, GI50 = 22 nM). Compound 6f, with no substitution on the C9 position showed a significative loss of activity with a
GI50 value of 85 nM. Concerning the A-ring, it seems that a 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl ring is required for strong activity, as compound
6c (GI50 = 25 nM) with only two MeO-substituents on the A-ring exhibited a lowest cytotoxicity in comparison with 6b. Evaluation
of tetrahydro-benzoxepin 25a which was found to elicit a nanomolar level of cytotoxicity (GI50 = 20 nM) demonstrated that the
presence of the double bond in dihydrobenzoxepin compounds 6 was important but not essential for antiproliferative property as we
previously showed by reducing the double bond of isoCA-4.[23]
2.2.2 Cytotoxicity and Inhibition of Tubulin Polymerization for Selected Compounds
To further characterize the cytotoxicity profiles of these compounds, we investigated the effect of the more cytotoxic benzoxepins
6b, 6c, 6e, 6f, and 25a (GI50< 85 nM) on the proliferation of three human tumor cell lines: myelogenous leukemia (K562), non-small
cell lung carcinoma (H1299) and hormone-independent breast cancer (MDA-MB231).
<Table 2>
Table 2. Cytotoxic activity and inhibition of tubulin polymerization of selected compounds
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The results depicted in Table 2 revealed that all selected compounds which retain a high level of cytotoxicity against HCT116 were
also strongly cytotoxic with no significant disparity against K562, H1299 and MDA-MB231 cancer cell lines. Again, benzoxepin 6b
was the most active compound inhibiting the growth of K562, H1299 and MDA-MB cancer cell lines with GI50 values inferior
ranging from 1.5 to 8 nM comparable to that of isoCA-4 (GI50 = 3-5 nM), thus clearly indicating an antiproliferative activity
regardless of the origin of the tumor cells. To confirm that the antiproliferative activities of these derivatives, like those of CA-4 and
isoCA-4, were related to an interaction with the microtubule system, benzoxepins 6b,c, 6e,f and 25a were evaluated for their
inhibitory effects on tubulin assembly (Table 2). As expected, all tested compounds strongly inhibited tubulin assembly with
comparable IC50 values of 3.2-3.9 µM, which were about two times greater than that of isoCA-4 (IC50 = 1.5 µM). Consistent with
earlier observations[66], the replacement of the 4-methoxy group in 6b (CI50 = 3.8 µM) with an hydrogen atom in 6c (CI50 = 3.2 µM)
had no significant impact on tubulin assembly but reduced cytotoxicity by approximately 10 orders of magnitude.
2.2.3 Cell Cycle Analysis and Apoptosis
Because molecules exhibiting activity on tubulin should cause the alteration of cell cycle parameters leading to a preferential G2/M
blockade,[67] the effect of the most potent benzoxepin 6b on the cell cycle of K562, MDA-MB231, H1299 and HCT116 cells was
then investigated. Cancer cells were cultured without or with 6b (Figure 3) and cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow
cytometry after 24 h of treatment using the standard propidium iodide procedure.
<Figure 3>
Figure 2. Effects of benzoxepin 6b at a concentration of 5.0 nM on cell cycle distribution in various cancer cell lines.
After treatment with 5 nM of 6b, a net increase in the number of cells arrested at the G2/M growth phase was observed. Cell-cycle
arrest in the G2/M phase is frequently followed by DNA fragmentation and other morphological features of apoptosis. The potency of
benzoxepin 6b to induce apoptosis was further characterized by a specific apoptosis assay. Cleavage of pro-caspases to active
caspases is one of the hall marks of apoptosis. HCT116 and H1299 cells were incubated with 1, 5, and 10 nM of 6b for 24 h and
caspases-3 and -7 activities were evaluated using the standard caspases assays.
<Figure 4>
Figure 3. Apoptotic effects of 6b in HCT116 and H1299 cells. The results are expressed in the percentage of apoptotic cells detected
following 24 h of treatment with 6b at different concentrations.
The results depicted in Figure 4 show a significant dose-dependent increase in proteolytic activity of caspases in HCT116 and H1299
cells treated with 6b at low concentrations of 5 and 10 nM. These data suggest that benzoxepin 6b, in addition to its antiproliferative
properties, also induced apoptosis in the tested cancer cell lines.
2.3. Docking study.
To rationalize the potential binding mode of benzoxepins 6 in tubulin, a docking study was carry out with 6b as the most potent
derivative in this series. For this purpose, the X-ray structure of tubulin-DAMA-colchicine complex (Code PDB: 1sa0)[68] was used.
<Figure 4>
Figure 5. Docked pose of 6b (gray) overlayed with isoCA-4 (blue) in the tubulin binding site.
The docking-derived superimposition of 6b and isoCA-4 was illustrated in Figure 5, and benzoxepin 6b showed a binding pose
similar to the one observed with isoCA-4. As it was previously observed with CA-4 and isoCA-4, the trimethoxyphenyl ring of 6b
was placed in proximity of Cys241 and the benzoxepin ring in proximity of Val181 to establish a hydrogen bond with its C9-OH
substituent.
3. Conclusion
We have designed and synthesized a series of benzoxepin compounds 6 as rigid-isoCA-4 analogues and evaluated their biological
activities. Compound 6b, the hybrid most closely resembling isoCA-4 in structure, have potent antimitotic and cytotoxic properties.
Benzoxepin 6b, which was prepared from isovanillin according to a convergent synthetic strategy in 9 steps (7.8% overall yield),
displayed a nanomolar level of cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines (GI50 = 1.5-8 nM), and showed similar antitubulin
5

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activities than that of isoCA-4. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that benzoxepin 6b at a low concentration of 5 nM, arrested the
cell cycle in the G2/M phase in H1299, K562, HCT116 and MDA-MB231 cells. Furthermore, 6b was characterized as a strong
apoptotic agent by inducing the activation of procaspases in HCT116 and H1299 cells. All these results are well supported by
molecular modelling studies, where it was observed that benzoxepin 6b and isoCA-4 can be perfectly superimposed in the tubulin
binding-site. On the basis of its excellent properties, compound 6b is worthy of further in vitro and in vivo evaluations.
4. Experimental
4.1 General considerations
The synthesis of 6g was achieved using a Biotage Initiator microwave synthesizer. NMR spectra were performed on a Bruker
AVANCE 300 (1H, 300 MHz; 13C, 75 MHz)or Bruker AVANCE 400 (1H, 400 MHz; 13C, 100 MHz). Unless otherwise stated, CDCl3
was used as solvent. Chemical shifts δ are in ppm, and the following abbreviations are used: singlet (s), doublet (d), triplet (t),
multiplet (m), doublet of triplet (dt), quintuplet (qt), broad singlet (br s). Elemental analyses (C, H, N) were performed with a Perkin-
Elmer 240 analyzer and were within 0.4% of the theorical values otherwise stated. Mass spectra were obtained using a Bruker
Esquire electrospray ionization apparatus. High resolution mass spectra were recorded on a MicrotofQ Bruker Daltonics. Thin-layer
chromatography was performed on silica gel 60 plates with a fluorescent indicator and visualized under a UVP Mineralight UVGL-
58 lamp (254 nm) and with a 7% solution of phosphomolybdic acid in ethanol. Flash chromatography was performed using silica gel
60 (40-63 ꢀm, 230-400 mesh ASTM) at medium pressure (200 mbar). All solvents were distilled and stored over 4 Å molecular
sieves before use. All reagents were obtained from commercial suppliers unless otherwise stated. Organic extracts were, in general,
dried over magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) or sodium sulphate (Na2SO4).
4.2 Synthesis of (1-(2-(but-3-en-1-yloxy)phenyl)vinyl)tributylstannane 9a
To a solution of 1-(but-3-en-1-yloxy)-2-ethynylbenzene[69] (600 mg, 3.5 mmol) in THF (10 mL) were successively added
PdCl2(PPh3)2 (246 mg, 0.35 mmol, 10 mol%) and Bu3SnH (1.15 mL, 4.2 mmol, 1.2 equiv). The mixture was stirred at room
temperature for 1 h and concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography on silica gel (neutralized with 1% of Et3N) afforded
1
compound 9a as a colorless oil (1.25 g; 2.8 mmol; 80%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc : 9/1) = 0.77. H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 7.15
(dt, 1H, J = 1.8 Hz, J = 7.6 Hz), 7.03 (dd, 1H, J = 7.5 Hz, J = 1.8 Hz), 6.89 (m, 1H), 6.79 (d, 1H, J = 7.6 Hz), 5.89-5.86 (m, 2H), 5.39
(m, 1H), 5.13 (m, 2H), 4.01 (t, 2H, J = 7.3 Hz), 2.65-2.55 (m, 2H), 1.55-1.30 (m, 12H), 1.20-0.65 (m, 15H). 13C NMR (100 MHz,
CDCl3): 155.6, 131.2, 128.3, 126.1, 120.2, 116.6, 113.8, 111.5, 110.8, 67.1, 33.3, 28.7 (3), 26.8 (3), 13.3 (3), 9.8 (3), one C missing.
IR (neat): 2955, 2926, 1577, 1464, 1237, 1117, 1030 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 465.0.
4.3 Synthesis of 1-(but-3-en-1-yloxy)-2-(1-iodovinyl)benzene 10a.
To a CH2Cl2 (10 mL) solution containing 9a (597 mg, 1.29 mmol) was added in one portion I2 (326 mg, 1.29 mmol) at 0°C. The
mixture was then stirred at rt for 1 h. Then a saturated KF solution (10 mL) was added to the mixture which was extracted with Et2O,
washed with a Na2S2O3 solution (10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over MgSO4, filtered, and the solvent was then
removed. Purification by flash chromatography afforded compound 10a as a brown oil (213 mg; 0.71 mmol; 45%). Rf
1
(cyclohexane/EtOAc : 9/1) = 0.54. H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 7.28-7.24 (m, 2H), 6.92-6.82 (m, 2H), 6.28 (s, 1H), 6.14 (s, 1H),
5.94 (m, 1H), 5.19-5.11 (m, 2H), 4.07 (m, 2H), 2.62 (m, 2H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 134.6, 130.2, 130.1, 129.9, 120.2, 117.7,
117.3, 117.1, 112.1, 100.5, 67.8, 33.7. IR (neat): 29272927, 1661, 1594, 1487, 1447, 1283, 1243, 1162, 1113 cm-1. MS (APCI)
[M+H]+ = 301.0.
4.4 Synthesis of 1-iodo-3-isopropoxy-4-methoxy-2-(methoxymethoxy)benzene 16.
Phenol 15[Error! Bookmark not defined.] (1.5 g, 4.86 mmol) was mixed with Et2NH (1.41 mL; 9.72 mmol) and MOMCl (0.75
mL; 9.72 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (15 mL) for 1 h at room temperature. The medium was quenched with H2O (45 mL) and extracted with
CH2Cl2 (3 x 15 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over MgSO4, filtered, and the solvent was then removed. Purification
by flash chromatography afforded compound 16 as a colorless oil (1.67 g; 4.77 mmol; 98%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 8/2) = 0.68. 1H
NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 7.36 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz) 6.42 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 5.14 (s, 2H), 4.33 (m, 1H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 3.60 (s, 3H),
1.21 (d, 6H, J = 6.2 Hz). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 155.0, 140.1, 132.8, 124.0, 109.7, 99.3, 81.5, 75.9, 58.6, 56.1, 22.4 (2C). MS
(ESI) [M+Na]+ = 375.0.
6

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
4.5 Synthesis of 4-(3-isopropoxy-4-methoxy-2-(methoxymethoxy)phenyl)but-3-yn-1-ol 17.
A solution of 16 (700 mg; 2 mmol), but-3-yn-1-ol (0.2 mL, 2.42 mmol), PdCl2(PPh3)2, (112 mg; 0.16 mmol), CuI (44 mg; 0.30
mmol) was stirred in Et3N (10 mL) for 2 h at room temperature. EtOAc (20 mL) was added to the crude mixture which was washed
with a saturated NH4Cl solution. After extraction with CH2Cl2, the combined extracts were dried (MgSO4) and concentrated.
Purification by flash chromatography on silica gel afforded alkyne 17 as a brown oil (538 mg; 1.80 mmol; 90%). Rf
(cyclohexane/EtOAc: 7/3) = 0.22. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 7.09 (d, 1H, J = 8.6 Hz), 6.61 (d, 1H, J = 8.6 Hz), 5.23 (s, 2H), 4.39
(m, 1H), 3.83 (s, 3H), 3.80 (t, 2H, J = 6.2 Hz), 3.61 (s, 3H), 2.69 (t, 2H, J = 6.2 Hz), 1.27 (d, 6H, J = 6.2 Hz), OH not seen. 13C NMR
(100 MHz, CDCl3): 154.6, 127.7, 114.9, 110.8, 107.4, 99.0, 97.3, 88.9, 78.9, 75.6, 61.1, 57.6, 55.9, 24.1, 22.4 (2C). IR (neat): 3894,
3807, 3634, 3489, 2976, 2106, 2021, 1594, 1491, 1437, 1381, 1290, 1207, 1157, 1099, 1060, 968, 921, 803, 774, 693 cm-1. MS (ESI)
[M+Na]+ = 317.0.
4.6 Synthesis of 4-hydroxy-1-(2-hydroxy-3-isopropoxy-4-methoxyphenyl)butan-1-one 18.
To a solution of 17 (400 mg; 1.36 mmol) in EtOH (272 µL) was added PTSA (260 mg; 1.36 mmol) and H2O (2.45 mL). The solution
was then stirred at 100° C in a sealed tube for 0.5 h. After cooling, the crude mixture was extracted with CH2Cl2. The organic layers
were dried over MgSO4, filtered, and the solvent was then removed. Purification by flash chromatography afforded compound 18 as
a brown oil (228 mg; 0.84 mmol; 62%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 5/5) = 0.30. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 12.53 (brs, 1H), 7.53 (d,
1H, J = 9.1 Hz), 6.46 (d, 1H, J = 9.1 Hz), 4.43 (m, 1H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.71 (t, 2H, J = 6.1 Hz), 3.05 (t, 2H, J = 7.1 Hz), 1.97 (m, 2H),
1.29 (d, 6H, J =6.2 Hz), OH not seen. 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 205.2, 158.9,. 157.6, 134.5, 126.0, 114.7, 102.8, 75.1, 61.9, 55.9,
34.5, 27.1, 22.4 (2C). IR (neat): 2976, 1631, 1505, 1429, 1261, 1131, 1092, 944, 685, 619 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 269.0.
4.7 Synthesis of 9-isopropoxy-8-methoxy-3,4-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepin-5(2H)-one 19.
Compound 18 (300 mg; 1.11 mmol) was stirred for 1 h with DEAD (0.27 mL; 1.68 mmol) and PPh3 (441 mg; 1.68 mmol) in THF
(30 mL). After concentration under reduced pressure, the crude mixture was purified by flash chromatography to afford benzoxepin-
5-one 19 as a pale yellow oil (174 mg; 0.69 mmol; 63%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 5/5) = 0.60. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 7.51 (d,
1H, J = 8.9 Hz), 6.66 (d, 1H, J = 8.9 Hz), 4.34 (m, 1H), 4.22 (t, 2H, J = 6.7 Hz), 3.85 (s, 3H), 2.83 (t, 2H, J = 6.9 Hz), 2.15 (m, 2H),
1.28 (d, 6H, J = 6.2 Hz). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 199.4, 157.7, 156.6, 137.9, 124.4, 123.9, 106.4, 75.7, 72.8, 55.9, 40.2, 25.9,
22.4 (2C). IR (neat): 2975, 2023, 1674, 1587, 1493, 1433, 1372, 1270, 1218, 1196, 1169, 1093, 1008, 964 cm-1. MS (ESI) [M+Na]+
= 273.1.
4.8 Synthesis of N'-(9-isopropoxy-8-methoxy-3,4-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepin-5(2H)-ylidene)-4-methylbenzenesulfonohydrazide 11a.
To a solution of benzoxepin-5-one 19 (173 mg; 0.69 mmol) and PTSA (28 mg; 0.14 mmol) in ethanol (5 mL) was added 4-
methylbenzenesulfonohydrazide (321 mg; 1.72 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred under reflux for 1 h. The medium was
diluted with EtOAc and filtered over a pad of Celite. The solvent was next removed and the residue was purified by crystallization in
1
ethanol to afford 11a as a white solid (147 mg; 0.35 mmol; 51%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 5/5) = 0.60. F = 192-194 °C. H NMR:
(CDCl3, 300 MHz): 7.76 (d, 2H, J = 8.1 Hz), 7.60 (brs, 1H), 7.31 (d, 2H, J = 8.1 Hz), 6.87 (d, 1H, J = 8.3 Hz), 6.53 (d, 1H, J = 8.3
Hz), 4.20 (m, 1H), 4.10 (m, 1H), 3.80 (m, 1H), 3.76 (s, 3H), 2.60 (t, 2H, J = 6.8 Hz), 2.37 (s, 3H), 1.80 (m, 2H), 1.19 (d, 6H, J = 6.3
Hz). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 157.1, 155.3, 151.6, 144.1, 138.8, 135.5, 129.7 (2C), 128.2 (2C), 123.9, 122.8, 107.1, 75.8, 71.0,
56.1, 26.3, 24.9, 22.5 (2C), 21.7. IR (neat): 3803, 3676, 2972, 1595, 1494, 1435, 1373, 1321, 1288, 1219, 1164, 1097, 911, 812, 728,
665 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 419.0.
4.9 Synthesis of 3-bromo-2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde 20[70]
To a solution of isovanillin (2.5 g; 21.55 mmol) in EtOH (25 mL) were added a drop of AcOH and Hg(OAc)2 (6.85 g; 21.55 mmol).
After 20 min of stirring at 50°C, an aqueous solution of NaBr (2.21 g; 21.55 mmol) was added and the precipitate was filtered. This
latter was dissolved in CH3CN and MPHT (8.45 g; 21.55 mmol) was added in one portion. After 20 min of stirring at room
temperature, the medium was concentrated and hydrolyzed with a saturated aqueous NaHCO3 solution. After extraction with EtOAc
(3 x 100 mL), the combined extracts were dried (MgSO4) and concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography on silica gel
afforded 20 as a beige solid (2.34 g; 12.05 mmol; 56%).
4.10 Synthesis of 2-(allyloxy)-3-bromo-4-methoxybenzaldehyde 21.
7

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
To a CH3CN solution of 20 (4.6 g; 20 mmol) was added K2CO3 (3.32 g; 24 mmol) and allylbromide (2.08 mL; 24 mmol). The
mixture was stirred for 1 h under reflux and after cooling to room temperature, the medium was filtered, concentrated and hydrolyzed
with H2O. After extraction with EtOAc, the combined extracts were dried (MgSO4) and concentrated. Purification by flash
chromatography on silica gel afforded 21 as a colorless oil (5.2 g; 19.2 mmol, 96%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 8/2) = 0.48. 1H NMR:
(CDCl3, 300 MHz): 10.15 (s, 1H), 7.77 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 6.74 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 6.06 (m, 1H), 5.36-5.26 (m, 2H), 4.55 (m, 2H),
3.91 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 188.3, 162.2, 160.5, 132.2, 128.8, 124.6, 119.6, 107.9, 107.5, 76.6, 56.8. IR (neat): 3082,
2938, 2847, 2362, 1675, 1584, 1485, 1452, 1437, 1414, 1391, 1359, 1291, 1246, 1199, 1178, 1127, 1073 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ =
271.0 (79Br), 273.5 (81Br).
4.11 Synthesis of 1-(2-(allyloxy)-3-bromo-4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-ol 13a.
To a solution of 21 (1.0 g; 3.7 mmol) in THF (10 mL) was added at 0° C 4.5 mL of a 1N solution of vinylmagnesium bromide (4.5
mmol) in THF. After stirring for 1 h at room temperature, the medium was hydrolyzed with H2O. After extraction with CH2Cl2, the
combined extracts were dried (MgSO4) and concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography on silica gel afforded 13a as a yellow
oil (1.05 g; 3.51 mmol; 95%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 7/3) = 0.50. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 7.22 (d, 1H, J = 8.7 Hz), 6.64 (d,
1H, J = 8.7 Hz), 6.16-5.90 (m, 2H), 5.43-5.13 (m, 5H), 4.47 (m, 2H), 3.81 (s, 3H), 2.40 (d, 1H, J = 5.4 Hz). 13C NMR (100 MHz,
CDCl3): 156.8, 154.8, 139.7, 133.2, 129.9, 127.0, 118.2, 114.9, 107.8, 107.3, 74.7, 69.8, 56.5. IR (neat): 2947, 1675, 1584, 1485,
1319, 1291, 1246, 1199, 1178, 1127, 998 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 299.1 (79Br), 301.1 (81Br).
4.12 Synthesis of 9-bromo-8-methoxy-2,5-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepin-5-ol 22
Compound 13a (828 mg; 2.79 mmol) was stirred under argon with Grubbs II catalyst ([1,3-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-2-
imidazolidinylidene]dichloro(phenylmethylene)(tricyclohexylphosphine)ruthenium, 231 mg; 0.27 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (60 mL) for 1 h
at room temperature. The crude mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel to
afford 22 as a colorless oil (558 mg; 2.04 mmol; 73%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 7/3) = 0.30. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 7.11 (d,
1H, J = 8.6 Hz), 6.55 (d, 1H, J = 8.6 Hz), 5.87 (m, 1H), 5.34-5.30 (m, 2H), 4.50 (m, 2H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 2.80 (d, 1H, J = 7.0 Hz, OH).
13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 156.4, 153.6, 133.0, 131.8, 127.1, 124.2, 107.2, 106.5, 69.8, 68.5, 56.5. IR (neat): 2362, 1675, 1584,
1291, 1246, 1199, 1178, 1127, 1073, 956, 873 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 271.3 (79Br), 273.0 (81Br).
4.13 Synthesis of 9-bromo-8-methoxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzo[b]oxepin-5-ol 23
A mixture of 22 (480 mg, 1.76 mmol), Pd/C (48 mg), MeOH (20 mL) and 1 drop of AcOH was stirred under an H2 atmosphere for 1
h at room temperature. The mixture was then filtered over a pad of Celite and concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography on
1
silica gel afforded 23 as a colorless oil (318 mg; 1.16 mmol; 66%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 9/1) = 0.33. H NMR: (CDCl3, 300
MHz): 7.24 (d, 1H, J = 7.2 Hz), 6.61 (d, 1H, J = 7.2 Hz), 4.86 (m, 1H), 4.17-3.99 (m, 2H), 3.87 (s, 3H), 2.50-2.15 (m, 2H), 2.10-1.93
(m, 2H), OH not seen. 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 156.3, 156.1, 131.3, 126.3, 106.7, 76.4, 73.3, 72.5, 56.6, 34.2, 27.0. IR (neat):
2978, 1595, 1490, 1435, 1355, 1321, 1288, 1231, 1206, 1164, 812, 730, 665, 641 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 273.0 (79Br), 275.1
(81Br).
4.14 Synthesis of 9-bromo-8-methoxy-3,4-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepin-5(2H)-one 24
To a solution of 23 (240 mg; 0.87 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (15 mL) was added in 3 portions PCC (192 mg) at the begining of the reaction, a
second drop of PCC (192 mg) was next added to the mixture after 1 h of stirring and a last drop of PCC (96 mg) was finally added to
complete the oxidation reaction after 3 h of stirring. The mixture was filtered over a pad of Celite and concentrated. Purification by
flash chromatography on silica gel afforded 24 as brown oil (228 mg; 0.84 mmol; 96%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 8/2) = 0.60.1H
NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 7.83 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 6.77 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 4.38 (t, 2H, J = 6.8 Hz), 4.02 (s, 3H), 2.94 (t, 2H, J =
6.8 Hz), 2.27 (m, 2H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 198.8, 160.6, 159.5, 129.6, 124.0, 106.4, 104.7, 73.0, 56.7, 40.1, 25.6. IR
(neat): 2813, 1795, 1490, 1462, 1399, 1321, 1287, 1219, 1164, 812, 728, 652 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 271.4 (79Br), 273.5 (81Br).
4.15 Synthesis of N'-(9-bromo-8-methoxy-3,4-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepin-5(2H)-ylidene)-4-methylbenzenesulfonohydrazide 11b
A solution of 24 (665 mg; 2.5 mmol), PTSA (53 mg; 0.25 mmol), MgSO4 (296 mg; 2.5 mmol) 4-methylbenzenesulfonohydrazide
(460 mg; 2.5 mmol) was stirred under reflux for 2 h. The medium was filtered over a pad of Celite, concentrated, diluted with EtOAc
and washed with H2O (3 x 10 mL). After extraction, the crude was precipitated in EtOH to afford 11b as a white solid (0.98 g; 2.22
8

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
mmol, 88%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 7/3) = 0.30. F = 201-203 °C. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 8.14 (s, 1H, NH), 7.71 (d, 2H, J =
8.0 Hz), 7.24 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 7.13 (d, 2H, J = 8.0 Hz), 6.46 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 3.95 (t, 2H, J = 6.6 Hz), 3.71 (s, 3H), 2.43 (t, 2H,
J = 6.6 Hz), 2.23 (s, 3H), 1.75 (m, 2H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 158.2, 155.9, 154.2, 144.2, 135.3, 129.6, 128.0, 127.9, 124.3
(2C), 107.0, 105.4, 70.8, 56.5, 26.1, 24.2, 21.6, one C missing. IR (neat): 2967, 1595, 1494, 1435, 1373, 1321, 1288, 1219, 1164,
812, 728, 665 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 439.0 (79Br), 441.0 (81Br).
4.16 Synthesis of 9-isopropoxy-8-methoxy-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepin 6a
To a dioxane (2 mL) solution of N-tosylhydrazone 11a (60 mg, 0.14 mmol), tBuOLi (23 mg; 0.28 mmol)), Pd2dba3 (13 mg; 0.014
mmol), and XPhos (13 mg; 0.028 mmol) was added 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyliodide (42 mg, 0.14 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 90
°C in a sealed tube for 1 h. After cooling at room temperature, the crude mixture was filtered over a pad of Celite and concentrated.
The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography to yield 6a as a brown oil (55 mg; 0.137 mmol; 98%). Rf
(cyclohexane/EtOAc: 7/3) = 0.60. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 400 MHz): 6.65 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 6.56 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 6.50 (s, 2H), 6.14
(t, 1H, J = 5.9 Hz), 4.48-4.43 (m, 3H), 3.87 (s, 3H), 3.83 (s, 3H), 3.81 (s, 6H), 2.50 (m, 2H), 1.35 (d, 6H, J = 5.6 Hz). 13C NMR (100
MHz, CDCl3): 153.3, 152.8 (2C), 152.2, 141.2, 139.7 (2C), 138.9, 137.3, 126.3, 125.3, 106.5, 106.0 (2C), 76.5, 75.8, 60.9, 56.1 (2C),
55.9, 30.4, 22.7 (2C). IR (neat): 2936, 1710, 1659, 1582, 1549, 1493, 1411, 1232 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 401.0.
4.17 Synthesis of 8-Methoxy-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepin-9-ol 6b
According to Scheme 2: A solution of 6a (110 mg; 0.28 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (5 mL) was stirred with AlCl3 (92 mg; 0.28 mmol) for 1 h
at room temperature. Then another portion of AlCl3 (92 mg) was added to the crude mixture. After 1 h of stirring, the medium was
hydrolyzed by H2O (10 mL). After extraction with CH2Cl2 (3 x 10 mL), the combined extracts were dried (MgSO4) and concentrated.
Purification by flash chromatography on silica gel afforded benzoxepin 6b as a pale yellow oil (16 mg; 0.04 mmol; 15%).
According to Scheme 3: A solution of 6d (100 mg; 0.24 mmol), KOH (5 mmol), Pd2dba3 (46 mg; 0.005 mmol) and tBuXPhos (8 mg;
0.015 mmol) in a mixture of dioxane/H2O: 1/1 (2 mL) was stirred at 90 °C in a sealed tube. After 1 h, the medium was cooled to
room temperature, quenched with NH4Cl (10 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 10 mL). The combined organic layers were then
dried over MgSO4, filtered and evaporated to dryness. Purification by flash chromatography afforded compound 6b as a pale yellow
oil (47 mg, 0.13 mmol, 55%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 7/3) = 0.26. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 6.51 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 6.42 (m,
3H), 6.08 (t, 1H, J = 5.9 Hz), 5.73 (br s, 1H, OH), 4.47 (t, 2H, J = 5.9 Hz), 3.83 (s, 3H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 3.74 (s, 6H), 2.49 (q, 2H, J =
5.9 Hz). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 152.8 (2C), 146.7, 144.7, 141.2, 138.6 (2C), 137.6, 126.2, 125.0, 121.3, 106.3, 106.0 (2C),
76.6, 60.9, 56.1 (3C). 30.3, IR (neat): 3853, 3618, 3441, 2937, 1580, 1504, 1444, 1411, 1333, 1233, 1124, 1089, 1007 cm-1. MS
(APCI) [M+H]+ = 359.2. HRMS calcd for C20H23O6 [M+H]+ 359.1495, obsd 359.1510.
4.18 Synthesis of 5-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-8-methoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepin-9-ol 6c
To a dioxane (1 mL) solution of N-tosylhydrazone 11a (100 mg, 0.24 mmol), tBuOLi (38 mg; 0.48 mmol)), Pd2dba3 (20 mg; 0.02
mmol), and XPhos (20 mg; 0.04 mmol) was added 3,5-dimethoxyphenyliodide (52 mg, 0.24 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 90 °C
in a sealed tube for 1 h. After cooling, the crude mixture was diluted in CH2Cl2 and stirred for 2 h with AlCl3 (22 mg; 0.24 mmol).
The medium was then hydrolyzed by H2O (10 mL). After extraction with CH2Cl2, the combined extracts were dried (MgSO4) and
concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography on silica gel afforded benzoxepin 6c as a pale yellow oil (20 mg; 0.06 mmol;
25%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 7/3) = 0.40. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 6.41 (d, 1H, J = 8.9 Hz), 6.33 (d, 1H, J = 8.9 Hz), 6.28 (m,
3H), 6.01 (t, 1H, J = 5.9 Hz), 5.66 (s, 1H), 4.37 (t, 2H, J = 5.9 Hz), 3.74 (s, 3H), 3.61 (s, 6H), 2.42 (q, 2H, J = 5.9 Hz). 13C NMR
(100 MHz, CDCl3): 160.5 (2C), 146.7, 145.1, 144.9, 141.0, 137.6, 126.7, 124.8, 121.4, 107.0, 106.4 (2C), 99.5, 76.3, 56.2, 55.4 (2C),
30.6. IR (neat): 3876, 2938, 1590, 1450, 1204, 1153, 1090 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 329.6. Compound 6c, however, does not give
completely satisfactory HRMS analyses despite repeated attempts at purification, but all other spectral data were consistent with this
structure.
4.19 Synthesis of 9-bromo-8-methoxy-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepin 6d
To a dioxane (3 mL) solution of N-tosylhydrazone 11b (800 mg, 1.84 mmol), tBuOLi (296 mg; 3.68 mmol), Pd2dba3 (168 mg; 0.16
mmol), and XPhos (344 mg; 0.72 mmol) was added 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyliodide (632 mg, 2.16 mmol). The mixture was stirred at
90 °C in a sealed tube for 1 h. After cooling at room temperature, the crude mixture was filtered over SiO2 and concentrated. The
9

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
residue was purified by silica gel chromatography to yield 6d as brown oil (536 mg; 1.26 mmol; 68%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 8/2)
= 0.33. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 6.86 (d, 1H, J = 8.7 Hz), 6.56 (d, 1H, J = 8.7 Hz), 6.41 (s, 2H), 6.19 (t, 1H, J = 6.3 Hz), 4.58 (t,
2H, J = 6.1 Hz), 3.84 (s, 3H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 3.74 (s, 6H), 2.37 (m, 2H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 156.3, 155.1, 152.9 (2C), 141.2,
138.0, 137.4, 130.0, 127.2, 126.5, 106.7, 106.6, 105.6 (2C), 78.0, 60.9, 56.4, 56.1 (2C). 29.3, IR (neat): 2874, 1985, 1579, 1485,
1445, 1441, 1386, 1333, 1233, 1122, 1004, 975 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 421.0 (79Br), 423.5 (81Br). HRMS calcd for C20H22BrO5
[M+H]+ 421.0651, obsd 421.0663.
4.20 Synthesis of 8-methoxy-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepin-9-amine 6e
A solution of 6d (100 mg; 0.24 mmol), NaN3 (31 mg; 0.48 mmol), CuI (3 mg; 0.02 mmol), DMEDA (0.13 mg; 0.012 mmol) and
sodium ascorbate (8 mg; 0.04 mmol) in a mixture of DMSO/H2O: 5/1 (2 mL) was stirred at 60 °C in a sealed tube. After 12 h, the
medium was cooled, quenched with NH4Cl and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over
MgSO4, filtered and evaporated to dryness. Purification by flash chromatography afforded 6e as a colorless oil (64 mg; 0.18 mmol,
75%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 7/3) = 0.26. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 6.64-6.43 (m, 3H), 6.37 (d, 1H, J = 8.6 Hz), 6.17 (t, 1H, J
= 6.0 Hz), 4.60-4.45 (t, 2H, J = 6.0 Hz), 3.88 (s, 6H), 3.81 (s, 6H), 2.48 (q, 2H, J = 6.0 Hz). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 152.9
(2C), 147.6, 144.9, 141.9, 138.9, 137.3, 128.1, 125.7, 119.9, 106.0 (2C), 105.5, 76.6, 61.0, 56.2 (2C), 55.8, 30.1, 1C missing. IR
(neat): 2444, 1985, 1579, 1485, 1415, 1333, 1233, 1122, 1004, 975 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 358.0. HRMS calcd for C20H24NO5
[M+H]+ 358.1654, obsd 358.1665.
4.21 Synthesis of 8-methoxy-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepin 6f
A nBuOH (2 mL) solution of 6d (105 mg; 0.24 mmol), Pd(OAc)2 (1.5 mg; 0.0015 mmol), PPh3 (7.5 mg; 0.006 mmol), was stirred
for 1 h at 100 °C in a sealed tube. The medium was cooled, H2O (8 mL) was added to the crude mixture. After extraction with EtOAc
(3 x 5 mL), the combined organic layers were dried over MgSO4, filtered and evaporated to dryness. Purification by flash
chromatography afforded 6f as a brown oil (57 mg; 0.165 mmol, 69%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 7/3) = 0.64. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 300
MHz): 6.82 (d, 1H, J = 6.9 Hz), 6.61 (m, 1H), 6.48 (m, 1H), 6.38 (s, 2H), 6.06 (t, 1H, J = 6.7 Hz), 4.38 (t, 2H, J = 6.7 Hz), 3.81 (s,
3H), 3.74 (s, 9H), 2.47 (q, 2H, J = 6.7 Hz). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 159.8, 159.2, 152.9 (2C), 140.9, 139.1, 137.1, 132.2, 126.5,
109.3, 106.7, 105.9 (2C), 76.6, 60.9, 56.1, 55.4 (2C), 30.6, 1C missing. IR (neat): 2937, 1607, 1580, 1499, 1461, 1411, 1356, 1234,
1125, 1007, 826 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 343.0. HRMS calcd for C20H23O5 [M+H]+ 343.1545, obsd 343.1552.
4.22 Synthesis of 4-(8-methoxy-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b] oxepin-9-yl)but-3-yn-1-ol 6g
A DMF (1 mL) solution of 6d (80 mg; 0.19 mmol), but-3-yn-1-ol (0.17 mL; 0.23 mmol), PdCl2(PPh3)2 (7 mg; 0.001 mmol), PPh3 (7
mg; 0.03 mmol), CuI (2 mg; 0.03 mmol) and Et2NH (0.4 mL; 0.38 mmol) was stirred at 120 °C under microwave irradiation. After
25 min, the medium was cooled down to room temperature, quenched with NH4Cl and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 10 mL). The
combined organic layers were then dried over MgSO4, filtered and evaporated to dryness. Purification by flash chromatography
1
afforded compounds 6g as a colorless oil (59 mg; 0.14 mmol; 74%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 4/6) = 0.42. H NMR: (CDCl3, 300
MHz): 6.90 (d, 1H, J = 8.9 Hz), 6.57 (d, 1H, J = 8.9 Hz), 6.46 (s, 2H), 6.20 (t, 1H, J = 6.0 Hz), 4.56 (t, 2H, J = 6.0 Hz), 3.93-3.82 (m,
8H), 3.80 (s, 6H), 2.80 (t, 2H, J = 6.0 Hz), 2.49 (q, 2H, J = 6.0 Hz). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 160.1, 159.4, 152.9 (2C), 140.8,
138.5, 137.3, 131.2, 126.7, 125.3, 105.7 (2C), 105.3, 94.6, 77.3, 76.0, 60.9 (2C), 56.1 (3C), 29.9, 24.6, 1C missing. IR (neat): 3531,
2939, 1582, 1504, 1486, 1463, 1412, 1356, 1333, 1283, 1236, 1126, 1102, 1055, 1007, 911, 829, 731, 696. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ =
411.0. HRMS calcd for C24H27O6 [M+H]+ 411.1808, obsd 411.1808.
4.23 Synthesis of 8-methoxy-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzo[b]oxepin-9-ol 25a
Compound 6b (72 mg, 0.2 mmol) in MeOH (8 mL) was stirred under a H2 pressure of 20 bars for 1 h at room temperature. The
mixture was then filtered over a pad of Celite and concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography on silica gel afforded 25a as a
pale brown oil (46 mg; 0.126 mmol; 63%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 7/3) = 0.30. 1H NMR: (CDCl3, 300 MHz): 6.48 (d, 1H, J = 6.7
Hz). 6.40 (s, 2H), 6.21 (d, 1H, J = 6.7 Hz), 5.83 (brs, 1H, OH), 4.22-4.10 (m, 2H), 4.02-3.95 (m, 1H), 3.86 (s, 3H), 3.85 (s, 3H), 3.81
(s, 6H), 2.25-2.10 (m, 2H), 2.05-1.95 (m, 2H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 153.0 (2C), 146.4, 146.1, 139.4, 137.7, 136.2, 130.2,
119.3, 106.6, 105.4 (2), 73.8, 60.9, 56.1 (3C), 48.8, 33.1, 29.7. IR (neat): 3374, 2932, 2160, 1998, 1590, 1462, 1238, 1127, 1085,
1044 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 361.0. Compound 25a, however, does not give completely satisfactory HRMS analyses despite
repeated attempts at purification, but all other spectral data were consistent with this structure.
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4.24 Synthesis of 4-(8-methoxy-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzo[b]oxepin-9-yl)butan-1-ol 25b
A mixture of 6g (90 mg, 0.21 mmol), Pd/C (9 mg), MeOH (30 mL) and 3 drops of AcOH was stirred under a H2 atmosphere for 3 h
at room temperature. The mixture was then filtered over a pad of Celite and concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography on
1
silica gel afforded 25b as a colorless oil (30 mg; 0.007 mmol; 34%). Rf (cyclohexane/EtOAc: 9/1) = 0.33. H NMR: (CDCl3, 300
MHz): 6.47 (d, 1H, J = 8.5 Hz), 6.39 (m, 3H), 4.11 (m, 2H), 3.80-3.75 (m, 1H), 3.78 (s, 3H), 3.74 (s, 6H), 3.70 (s, 3H), 3.62 (t, 2H, J
= 5.8 Hz), 2.64 (t, 2H, J = 6.9 Hz), 1.99 (m, 4H), 1.54 (m, 5H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 158.3, 157.0, 153.2 (2C), 140.2, 136.4,
130.7, 127.1, 123.6, 105.7 (2C), 105.5, 73.1, 63.1, 61.0, 56.2 (2C), 55.7, 48.6, 33.2, 32.7, 30.1, 26.1,. 23.3. IR (neat): 2938, 1590,
1450, 1153, 1090 cm-1. MS (APCI) [M+H]+ = 417.0. HRMS calcd for C24H33O6 [M+H]+ 417.2277, obsd 417.2288.
4.25 Cell Culture and Proliferation Assay
Cancer cell lines were obtained from the American type Culture Collection (Rockville, MD) and were cultured according to the
supplier’s instructions. Briefly MDA-MB231 and H1299 cells were grown in Dulbecco minimal essential medium (DMEM)
containing 4.5 g/L glucose supplemented with 10% FCS and 1% glutamine. Human K562 leukemia and HCT116 colorectal
carcinoma cells were grown in RPMI 1640 containing 10% FCS and 1% glutamine. Cell lines were maintained at 37 °C in a
humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO2. Cell viability was assessed using Promega CellTiter-Blue TM reagent according to the
manufacturer’s instructions. Cells were seeded in 96-well plates (5 × 103 cells/well) containing 50 ꢀL growth medium. After 24 h of
culture, the cells were supplemented with 50 ꢀL of the tested compound dissolved in DMSO (less than 0.1% in each preparation).
After 72 h of incubation, 20 ꢀL of resazurin was added for 2 h before recording fluorescence (λex = 560 nm, λem = 590 nm) using a
Victor microtiter plate fluorimeter (Perkin-Elmer, USA). The GI50 corresponds to the concentration of the tested compound that
caused a decrease of 50% in fluorescence of drug treated cells compared with untreated cells. Experiments were performed in
triplicate. The GI50 values for all compounds were compared to the GI50 of CA-4 and isoCA-4 and were measured the same day
under the same conditions.
4.26 Tubulin Binding Assay
Sheep brain tubulin was purified according to the method of Shelanski[71]by two cycles of assembly-disassembly and then dissolved
in the assembly buffer containing 0.1 M MES, 0.5 mM MgCl2, 1 mM EGTA, and 1 mM GTP, pH 6.6 (the concentration of tubulin
was about 2-3 mg/mL). Tubulin assembly was monitored by fluorescence according to reported procedure[72] using DAPI as
fluorescent molecule. Assays were realized on 96-well plates prepared with Biomek NKMC and Biomek 3000 from Beckman
Coulter and read at 37°C on Wallac Victor fluorimeter from Perkin Elmer. The IC50 value of each compound was determined as the
concentration which decreased the maximum assembly rate of tubulin by 50% compared to the rate in the absence of compound. The
IC50 values for all compounds were compared to the IC50 of isoCA-4 and measured the same day under the same conditions.
4.27 Cell Cycle Analysis
Exponentially growing cancer cells (K562, H1299, HCT116, MDA-MB231) were incubated with benzoxepine 6b at a concentration
of 5 nM or DMSO for 24 h. Cell-cycle profiles were determined by flow cytometry on a FC500 flow cytometer (Beckman-Coulter,
France) as described previously.[73]
4.28 Apoptosis Assay
Apoptosis was measured by the Apo-one homogeneous caspase-3/7 assay (Promega Co, WI) according to the manufacturer’s
recommendations. Briefly, HCT116 and H1299 cells were subcultured on a 96-well plate with 5 × 104 cells/well in 100 ꢀL medium.
After 24 h of incubation, the medium in the 96-well plate was discarded and replaced with medium containing different
concentrations of benzoxepin 6b (1, 5, and 10 nM) or 0.1% DMSO (as negative control). The treated cells were incubated for 24 h,
each well then received 100 ꢀL of a mixture of caspase substrate and Apo-one caspase 3/7 buffer. After 1 h of incubation, the
fluorescence of sample was measured using a Victor microtiter plate fluorimeter (Perkin-Elmer, USA) at 527 nm.
4.29 Molecular modeling
For ligand preparation, compound 6b was built using Chemdraw and converted to 3D using the dbtranslate program from Unity
module of Sybyl (Tripos International, S.L., Missouri, USA). The 3D structure was minimized and a conformational analysis was
11

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performed (systematic search) selecting all possible rotatable bonds. The most stable structure of each compound was selected and
used for docking. For the receptor preparation, the x-ray structure of tubulin-colchicine complex (PDB: 1sa0) was used for this study
downloaded from the Protein Data Bank. Hydrogen atoms were added and an energy minimisation using AMBER 8.0[74] was
performed keeping the α-carbons constrained by a constraint-force of 50 kcal/mol Å2, which permitted to side-chains free to move
and kept the same secondary structures. Over the refined model we defined the active site of tubulin as 12 Å around the crystallized
colchicine. We performed a docking of all compounds using the program GOLD 4.1.2.[75]
Acknowledgments
The CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) is gratefully acknowledged for financial support of this research. We
thank the MRES (Ministère de la Recherche et de l’Enseignement Supérieur) for a financial fellowship to E.R. Our laboratory
BioCIS-UMR 8076 is a member of the Laboratory of Excellence LERMIT supported by a grant from ANR (Agence Nationale de la
Recherche, ANR-10-LABX-33). The work on tubulin was supported by a grant from ANR (ANR-09-BLAN-0071).
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Legends to Figures, Schemes and Tables
Figure 1. Representative inhibitors of tubulin polymerization and rational drug design from CA-4 and isoCA-4 to dihydrobenzoxepin
analogues 6.
Figure 2. Retrosynthesis of 5-arylbenzoxepins 6.
Scheme 1. Synthesis of vinylstannane 9a and vinyliodide 10a. Reagent and conditions: a) PdCl2(PPh3)2 (2 mol%), Bu3SnH (1.2
equiv), THF, 20 °C; b) I2, CH2Cl2, 20 °C.
Scheme 2. Synthesis of dihydrobenzoxepins 6b,c. Reagent and conditions: a) MOMCl (2 equiv), iPr2NH (2 equiv), CH2Cl2; b) But-
3-yn-1-ol (1.1 equiv), PdCl2(PPh3)2 (8 mol%), CuI (15 mol%), Et3N; c) PTSA (1 equiv), H2O, 100 °C, sealed tube; d) DEAD (1.5
equiv), PPh3 (1.5 equiv), THF; e) TsNHNH2 (2.5 equiv), PTSA (20 mol%), EtOH reflux; f) Pd2dba3 (10 mol%), XPhos (20 mol%),
tBuOLi (2 equiv), ArI (1 equiv), 90 °C, sealed tube; g) AlCl3 (5 equiv), CH2Cl2.
Scheme 3. Synthesis of dihydrobenzoxepins 6b, 6d-g and tetrahydrobenzoxepins 25a,b. Reagent and conditions: a) (i) Hg(OAc)2 (1
equiv), NaBr (1 equiv), 50 °C, EtOH; (ii) MPHT (1 equiv), CH3CN; b) 3-bromoprop-1-ene (1.2 equiv), K2CO3 (1.2 equiv), CH3CN;
c) vinylmagnesium chloride (1.2 equiv), THF; d) Grubbs II catalyst, 5 mol%, CH2Cl2, 20 °C; e) H2, Pd/C, MeOH, AcOH cat.; f)
PCC, CH2Cl2; g) TsNHNH2 (1 equiv), PTSA (10 mol%), MgSO4 (1 equiv), EtOH, reflux; h) Pd2dba3 (10 mol%), XPhos (40 mol%),
tBuOLi (2 equiv), 3,4,5-trimethoxyiodobenzene (1.2 equiv), 90 °C, sealed tube; i) Pd2dba3 (5 mol%), tBuXPhos (15 mol%), KOH (3
equiv), dioxane-H2O, 90 °C, sealed tube; j) CuI (10 mol%), TMEDA (6 mol%), NaN3 (2 equiv), potassium ascorbate (6 mol%)
DMSO-H2O, 90 °C, sealed tube; k) Pd(OAc)2 (1 mol%), PPh3 (2.5 mol%), nBuOH, 100 °C, sealed tube; l) nBut-3-yn-1-ol (1.2
equiv), PdCl2(PPh3)2 (5 mol%), PPh3 (15 mol%), CuI (15 mol%), Et2NH (2 equiv), DMF, 120 °C, MWI.
Table 1. Cytotoxic activity of dihydrobenzoxepins 6b-g and tetrahydrobenzoxepins 25a,b against HCT116a
Table 2. Cytotoxic activity and inhibition of tubulin polymerization of selected compounds
Figure 3. Effects of benzoxepin 6b at a concentration of 5.0 nM on cell cycle distribution in various cancer cell lines.
Figure 4. Apoptotic effects of 6b in HCT116 and H1299 cells. The results are expressed in the percentage of apoptotic cells detected
following 24 h of treatment with 6b at different concentrations.
Figure 5. Docked pose of 6b (gray) overlayed with isoCA-4 (blue) in the tubulin binding site.
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<Figure 1>
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<Figure 2>
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<Scheme 1>
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<Scheme 2>
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HO
O
HO
HO
CHO
OMe
CHO
OMe
CHO
OH
OH
Br
O
O
O
O
O
a, b
c
f
g
d
e
Br
Br
Br
Br
Br
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
isovanillin
20 (56%)
24 (96%)
21 (96%)
23 (66%)
13a (95%)
22 (73%)
O
TsHNN
O
O
MeO
MeO
MeO
MeO
MeO
f
OH
j
O
OH
i
Br
h
MeO
OMe
Br
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
6d (68%)
11b (88%)
6b (55%)
25a (63%)
m
k
l
OH
( )2
O
O
O
O
MeO
MeO
MeO
MeO
MeO
MeO
MeO
MeO
( )4
NH2
OMe
f
OH
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
6f (69%)
OMe
6g (74%)
OMe
6e (75%)
OMe
25b (34%)
<Scheme 3>
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Cytotoxicity against HCT-116a cells
Cpnd
GI50b [nM]
6b: 1.5 ± 0.1
6c: 25 ± 3
6d: 170 ± 18
6e: 22 ± 3
O
MeO
MeO
OH
Cpnd
OMe
OMe
GI50b [nM]
GI50b [nM]
6f: 85 ± 10
6g: 250 ± 22
25a: 20 ± 3
25b: Nac
isoCA-4: 3 ± 0.2d
CA-4: 2 ± 0.2d
aHCT-116 Human colon carcinoma. bGI50 is the concentration of compound needed to reduce cell growth by 50% following 72 h cell
c
d
treatment with the tested drug (average of three experiments). Non active. The GI50 values for CA-4, isoCA-4 were determined in
this study.
<Table 1>
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Cytotoxicity GI50a [nM]
Inhibition of
tubulin
Cpnd
polymerization
HCT116b
K562b
H1299b
MDA-MB231b
IC50c [µM]
3.8 ± 0.4
3.2 ± 0.3
3.6 ± 0.4
3.9 ± 0.4
3.3 ± 0.3
1.5 ± 0.2
6b
6c
1.5 ± 0.1
25 ± 3
8 ± 1
30 ± 4
40 ± 4
100 ± 9
50 ± 5
5 ± 0.3
4.5 ± 0.3
32 ± 3
3 ± 0.2
28 ± 4
8 ± 1
22 ± 3
30 ± 2
6e
85 ± 10
20 ± 3
180 ± 15
7 ± 1
250 ± 23
15 ± 2
4 ± 0.3
6f
25a
isoCA-4d
3 ± 0.2
3 ± 0.2
aGI50 is the concentration of compound needed to reduce cell growth by 50% following 72 h cell treatment with the tested drug
(average of three experiments). bHCT116, colon carcinoma; K562, myelogenous leukaemia; H1299, non-small cell lung
carcinoma; MDA-MB231 hormone-independent breast cancer. cITP, Inhibition of Tubulin Polymerization; IC50 is the
concentration of compound required to inhibit 50% of the rate of microtubule assembly (average of three experiments). dThe GI50
and IC50 values (cytotoxicity and ITP, respectively) for isoCA-4 were determined in this study.
<Table 2>
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K562 cells
Untreated cells (DMSO)
MDA-MB231 cells
Untreated cells (DMSO)
6b: 5 nM
6b: 5 nM
H1299 cells
Untreated cells (DMSO)
HCT116 cells
Untreated cells (DMSO)
6b: 5 nM
6b: 5 nM
<Figure 3>
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<Figure 4>
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Cys 241
Val 181
<Figure 5>
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Highlights
Benzoxepins 6 as restricted-analogues of isoCA-4 have been synthesized.
Highly cytotoxic benzoxepin 6b inhibited tubulin assembly at a micromolar level.
Compound 6b arrested the cellular cycle in the G2/M phase and induced apoptosis.
Presumptive binding mode of 6b and isoCA4 are similar on β-tubulin.

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Supplementary data
Design, synthesis and anticancer properties of 5-arylbenzoxepins as conformationally restricted isoCombretastatin A-4
analogues
Evelia Rasolofonjatovo,a Olivier Provot,*a Abdallah Hamze,a Jordi Rodrigo,a Jérome Bignon,b Joanna Wdzieczak-Bakala,b Christine Lenoir,b Déborah
Desravines,b Joëlle Dubois,b Jean-Daniel Brion,a Mouad Alami*a
a Univ. Paris-Sud, CNRS, BioCIS-UMR 8076, LabEx LERMIT, Laboratoire de Chimie Thérapeutique, Faculté de Pharmacie, 5 rue J.-B. Clément, Châtenay-
Malabry, F-92296, France.
b Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, UPR 2301, CNRS avenue de la terrasse, F-91198 Gif sur Yvette, France.
* Corresponding authors. Tel.: +33 1 46 83 58 47. Fax: +33 1 46 83 58 28. E-mail adress: olivier.provot@u-psud.fr (O.P.) or mouad.alami@u-psud.fr (M.A.).
Contents
Representative 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra for compounds synthesized 6b-g and 25a,b.

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