Adamantane acid esters with alkoxyaryl alcohols: Synthesis, antiproliferative activity, and influence on microtubule network of tumor cells

Adamantaneacetic and adamantanecarboxylic acid esters containing 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl, or 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methoxyphenyl groups were synthesized as unusual analogs of natural antitumor and anti-tubulin agents combretastatin A-4 and 2-methoxyestradiol. The compounds were found to possess noticeable cytotoxicity to epithelial human carcinoma cell line A549 (EC50 = 4.3—81 μmol L–1). An ability to cause complete depolymerization of microtubule network of A549 cells was demonstrated for 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methoxyphenyl adamantan-1-ylacetate (6a) at a concentration of 100 μmol L–1. Ester 6a belongs to a new structural type, which is unusual for the ligands of the tubulin colchicine domain, and is an interesting lead compound for further structural optimization.