Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4,6-diphenyl-2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)nicotinonitrile analogues of crolibulin and combretastatin A-4

A series of novel crolibulin and combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) analogues using a 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)pyridine ring as link-bridge were discovered. Compounds (6a-d) exhibited cytotoxicity with IC50 values ranging from 0.030 to 0.31 μM.205