Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 1-Methyl-2-(3’,4’,5’-Trimethoxybenzoyl)-3-Amino Indoles as a New Class of Antimitotic Agents and Tubulin Inhibitors

The 2-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-2-aminoindole nucleus was used as the fundamental structure for the synthesis of compds. modified with respect to positions C-4 to C-7 with different moieties (chloro, Me, or methoxy). Addnl. structural variations concerned the indole nitrogen, which was alkylated with small alkyl groups such as Me or Et. We have identified 1-methyl-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-3-amino-7-methoxyindole as a new highly potent antiproliferative agent that targets tubulin at the colchicine binding site and leads to apoptotic cell death.