Abstract
A series of 5,5′-(phenylmethylene)bis(6-amino-2-thiouracil) derivatives (1–13) were synthesized by the condensation of 6-amino-2-thiouracil and benzaldehyde derivatives under reflux in glacial acetic acid. Nine compounds (3, 5 and 7–13) were novel. Good binding affinity (BE) in the active site of Eg5 was shown by all compounds, which ranged between −5.0 kcal mol−1 to −26.7 kcal mol−1. Most compounds in the series exhibited a stronger interaction than 5-fluorouracil (BE = −8.0 kcal mol−1) with Eg5. The docking results were supported by cytotoxicity studies of the synthesized compounds against HeLa (cervical cancer) cell lines, where all compounds exhibited better anti-cancer activity than 5-fluorouracil (IC50 = 12.08 µg mL−1) at the lowest concentration (10 µg mL−1) with IC50 values ranging from 4.18 to 10.20 µg mL−1.
Graphical Abstract
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Disclosure statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.