Synthesis and anticancer activity evaluation of 3,4-mono- and bicyclosubstituted N-(het)aryl trifluoromethyl succinimides

•A series of trifluoromethyl succinimides was synthesized and subjected to anticancer screening by NCI.•The synthesized compounds showed observed activity against Leukemia (RPMI-8226), Non-Small cell Lung cancer (A549/ATCC), and Renal cancer cell lines (A498 and SN12 C).

Novel trifluoromethylated mono- and bicyclic succinimides derived from trifluoromethylmaleic anhydride were synthesized using cyclopentadiene or 2,3-dimethylbutadiene and (het)arylamines. The biological activity of these compounds was evaluated using prediction methods and experimental studies. This series of new trifluoromethyl succinimides (3a,b and 6a-c) were tested by the National Cancer Institute (NCI, Bethesda, USA) by Program NCI-60 DTP Human Tumor Cell Line Screen at a single high dose (10−5 M). Imides revealed activity on Leukemia cell lines (RPMI-8226 - myeloma cell line), Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer cell lines (A549/ATCC - lung carcinoma epithelial cells) and Renal cancer cell lines (A498 and SN12 C).

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