Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of thiazole-fused anthraquinones

Heterocyclic derivatives of anthraquinone demonstrated a high potential for the development of new antitumor compounds. In this study, we report a scheme for the synthesis of thiazole-fused anthraquinones and the results of their antiproliferative activity. A convenient metal-free method for the thiolation of anthraquinone derivatives has been proposed for the preparation of the key intermediates. C-S bond formation upon nucleophilic substitution of the bromine atom in anthraquinone with 4-methoxybenzyl mercaptan readily occurs under mild conditions using t-BuOK as a base. This process was used for the preparation of anthra[2,3-d]thiazoles with various substituents at position 2, in particular the alkoxycarbonyl group. Study of the chemical properties resulted in the transformation of anthra[2,3-d]thiazole-2-carboxylic acid into a series of carboxamides. Screening the antiproliferative effect revealed moderate activity of compounds 12b and 12d against human cancer cells, showing weaker activity than anthra[2,3-d]thiophene analogs and indicating a crucial role of the heterocyclic nucleus in the antitumor potency of heteroareneanthraquinones.