Further naphthylcombretastatins. An investigation on the role of the naphthalene moiety

By synthesis and biological studies of new naphthalene analogues of combretastatins, we have found that the naphthalene is a good surrogate for the isovanillin moiety (3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl) of combretastatin A-4, always generating highly cytotoxic analogues when combined with the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl or related systems. On the other hand, when the naphthalene replaces the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl moiety, the cytotoxic activity is largely decreased. The most cytotoxic naphthalene analogues of combretastatins, which also produce inhibition of tubulin polymerization, exerted their antimitotic effects through microtubule network disruption and subsequent G2/M arrest of the cell cycle in human cancer cells.This research has been supported by “Junta de Castilla y León” (073/02), Ministerios de “Ciencia y Tecnología” (PPQ2001-1977) and “Educación y Ciencia” (CTQ2004-369/BQU), European Union (Structural funds), and “Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria” (FIS-02/1199).Peer Reviewe