Synthesis of novel 5-substituted phenyl-3-(p-isopropylphenyl)-1-phenylformazan and their biological activities

Abstract

Novel 1-substituted 3-(p-isopropylphenyl)-5-phenylformazans (3a--g) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, $^{1}$H NMR, and FT-IR techniques and UV-visible spectroscopy. Antiproliferative activities of 3a--g against HeLa and C6 cells were determined using the BrdU cell proliferation ELISA assay. 5-Florouracil was used as the positive control. The effects of substituents (--H, --CH$_{3}$, and --I) and their positions ($ortho$, $meta$, and $para$) on the antiproliferative activities were evaluated. The results of the assay indicate that I substituent exhibited higher activity against the cells at the $meta$ and $para$ positions than --CH$_{3}$ and --H substituents. 3a--g exhibited both high antiproliferative activities against C6 cells and noncytotoxicity. 3a--g may be anticancer drug candidates.