Synthesis and anticancer activity evaluation of novel azacalix[2]arene[2]pyrimidines

A series of novel azacalix[2]arene[2]pyrimidines were synthesized, and evaluated for their anti proliferative activities against A549, MCF7, SH-SY5Y and CNE human cancer cell lines in vitro by using the CCK-8 assay. A number of compounds showed low micromolar antiproliferative activities against MCF7 cell line. Compound 4j, containing a pyrrolidine moiety, exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 0.58 mu M. Furthermore, breast cancer cells were used to explore the inhibition mechanism of these azacalix[2]arene[2]pyrimidines. The results suggested these compounds were involved in inducing cell apoptosis via up-regulation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 protein expression, and the cell cycle was arrested at the S phase. Our reports here represent the first studies on the biological activities of azacalix[2]arene[2]pyrimidines. (C) 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.