Synthesis, structure and anticancer activity of novel alkenyl-1,3,5-triazine derivatives.

A series of novel 4-(E)-ethenyl-6-alkylamino-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamine derivatives 9-17 have been synthesized by a Wittig reaction of corresponding alkyltriphenylphosphonium bromides 5-8 with (hetero)aromatic aldehydes. The E configuration of these alkenes was confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopic data. All the compounds prepared were screened at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for their activity against a panel of 56 tumor cell lines and relationship between structure and in vitro antitumor activity is discussed. The most active compounds 14 and 17 showed 50% growth inhibitory activity in low micromolar concentrations against renal cancer A498 cell line and colon cancer cell line COLO 205, respectively.