Synthesis and biological evaluation of 5,6,7-trimethoxy-1-benzylidene-3,4-dihydro-naphthalen-2-one as tubulin-polymerization inhibitors

Abstract A series of new combretastatin-A4 analogs were synthesized, in which a six-membered ring connects the linking bridge and A ring, and their tumor cell growth and tubulin-polymerization inhibitory activity were evaluated. These compounds appear to be potential tubulin-polymerization inhibitors. Compounds 1b with amino substituted on position 3 of B ring conferred optimal bioactivity, higher than that of the lead compound 22b and equivalent to that of CA-4. The binding modes of these compounds to tubulin were obtained by molecular docking, which can explain the structure–activity relationship. The studies presented here provide a new structural type for the development of novel antitumor agents.