The synthesis and anti-proliferative effects of β-elemene derivatives with mTOR inhibition activity

Fourteen beta-elemene derivatives containing a piperazine, a morpholine, a tetrahydropyrrole, a thiophenylethylamine, or a cyclohexamine group were synthesized. The structures of these beta-elemene derivatives were characterized with IR, H-1 NMR, MS, and elemental analyses. All these derivatives had an increased anti-proliferative activity in human cervix epitheloid carcinoma HeLa, gastric carcinoma SGC-7901, and leukemia K562 cells comparing with that of beta-elemene. Among these derivatives, 13,14-bis(cis-3,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-beta-elemene (IIi), 13 14-bis[2-(2-thiophenyl)ethylamino]-beta-elemene (IIm), and 13,14-bis(cyclohexamino)-beta-elemene (IIn) were the most potent agents. IIi, IIm, and IIn inhibited K562 cell growth with an IG(50) below 5 mu M that was correlated with mTOR activity inhibition. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.