Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-(trimethoxyphenyl)-2(3H)-thiazole thiones as combretastatin analogs

3-(Trimethoxyphenyl)-2(3H)-thiazole-thiones 5 and related compounds were synthesized as new heterocyclic analogs of CA-4. Representatively, compound 5f (R = 4-Me) depolymerized tubulin, inhibited cell proliferation, and induced apoptosis in cancer cells.