Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazones in a dimeric system: structure-activity relationship studies on their anti-proliferative and iron chelation efficacy

Abstract

Thiosemicarbazone chelators represent an exciting class of biologically active compounds that show great potential as anti-tumor agents. Our previous studies demonstrated the potent anti-tumor activity of the 2'-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone series. While extensive studies have been performed on monomeric thiosemicarbazone compounds, dimeric thiosemicarbazone chelators have received comparatively less attention. Thus, it was of interest to investigate the anti-proliferative activity and iron chelation efficacy of dimeric thiosemicarbazones. Two classes of dimeric thiosemicarbazones were designed and synthesized. The first class consisted of two benzoylpyridine-based thiosemicarbazone units connected via a hexane or dodecane alkyl bridge, while the second class of dimer consisted of two thiosemicarbazones attached to a 2,6-dibenzoylpyridine core. These dimeric ligands demonstrated greater anti-proliferative activity than the clinically used iron chelator, desferrioxamine. This study highlights the importance of optimal lipophilicity as a factor influencing the cytotoxicity and iron chelation efficacy of these chelators.

Keywords: Dimer; Iron; Lipophilicity; Thiosemicarbazone.