Synthesis of substituted triazolyl curcumin mimics that inhibit RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis

Some promising new antiresorptive agents of potential utility for treating osteoporosis were uncovered in a curcumin mimics library possessing a substituted triazole moiety, which is synthesized by the Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-cycloaddition reaction between two azido intermediates (9 and 10) and various alkynes (a–k). A tartarate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity assay was carried out with RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis of mouse monocyte/macrophage RAW264.7 cells; the results indicated that the curcumin mimics derived from intermediate 10 exhibited stronger inhibitory activity than 9. In particular, curcumin mimics 12h, 13c, and 13e strongly inhibited osteoclast differentiation.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide