New triazole-linked hybrids exhibiting selective antiproliferative activity.

Marine natural products are a source of highly potent bioactive compounds. Inspired by compounds like Enigmazole A and Leucascandrolide A, we decided to create hybrid compounds that combine oxazole moiety with tetrahydropyran rings. The tetrahydropyran rings were constructed by Prins cyclization; meanwhile oxa/thiazoles were synthesized by cyclodehydration of dipeptides. Both buildings blocks were afterwards connected by means of the copper(I) catalyzed version of the azide-alkyne [3 + 2] cycloaddition (CuAAC), a strategy previously used by us. The hybrid compounds obtained were assayed against six different tumour cells to determine the grow inhibition, and against one non-tumour cell in order to determine selectivity. The results showed that many of the hybrid compounds exhibit similar grow inhibition when compared with the standards (cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil), but an improved selectivity.