Synthesis and anticancer evaluation of 3-aryl-6-phenylimidazo [2,1-b]thiazoles

A series of new 3,6-diphenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole derivatives (4a-l) are synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activity. Some of the synthesized compounds have shown potent anti-proliferative activity against HeLa, MDA-MB-231, A549 and THP1 human cancer cell lines. Among the active compounds, 3-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole (4j) has caused significant cytotoxicity in HeLa cells, with IC₅₀ as low as 6.5 μM. Compound 4j has induced caspase-3 and caspase-8 activation, leading to an apoptotic cell death. FACS analysis has revealed that compound 4j arrests cells in G0/G1 phase. The presence of 3-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)- or 3-(3-chlorophenyl)-substituent, in that order, on the 6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole impacts more positively than other aryl-substituents, on the anti-proliferative properties of these compounds.