Synthesis and evaluation of 2-[2-(phenylthiomethyl)-1H-benzo[d] imidazol-1-yl)acetohydrazide derivatives as antitumor agents

A novel class of acetohydrazide derivatives containing 2-(phenylthiomethyl)-1H-benzo-[d]-imidazole moiety are described, their antitumor activitives against A549, HCT116, HepG2, PC-9, and A375 were determined by the MTT assay. Compounds 5a and 5d displayed excellent cancer inhibitory activity (IC50 4-17 μM).