Design, synthesis and antitumour activity of bisquinoline derivatives connected by 4-oxy-3-fluoroaniline moiety

A series of novel bisquinoline derivatives connected by a 4-oxy-3-fluoroaniline moiety were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antitumour activities against a panel of five cancer cell lines (H460, HT-29, MKN-45, U87MG, and SMMC-7721). Most of compounds tested showed a potent activity and high selectivity towards the H460 and MKN-45 cell lines. Among the compounds tested, six (15d, 15e, 15m, 15n, 16a, and 16i) were further examined for their c-Met kinase activity; the compounds showed high efficacy with IC50 values in the single-digit nM range. An analysis of structure-activity relationships indicated that an unsubstituted or a halogen-substituted phenyl ring on the 2-arylquinoline-4-carboxamide moiety was favourable for antitumour activity.