Novel and versatile methodology for synthesis of cyclic imides and evaluation of their cytotoxic, DNA binding, apoptotic inducing activities and molecular modeling study

Versatile method has been developed for synthesis of N-substituted imides. Thus, acid anhydrides, imides and dicarboxylic acids were successfully subjected to dehydrative cyclization with substituted amines using DPPOx and Et3N to afford N-substituted imides under mild conditions. The DNA binding and apoptosis induction were investigated with regard to their potential utility as cytotoxic agents. Molecular modeling methods are used to study the cytotoxic activity of the active compounds by means of molecular and quantum mechanics. (c) 2006 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.