Exploring the effect of 2,3,4-trimethoxy-phenyl moiety as a component of indolephenstatins

A new family of phenstatin analogues has been synthesized and assayed. This family simultaneously incorporates modifications of the A-ring (replacement of the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl by the 2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl arrangement), B-ring (N-alkyl-5-indolyl) and conversion of the Oxygen keto group into a substituted nitrogen (oximes, hydrazones, and their acetylderivatives). The conjunction of all this changes greatly diminishes the antimitotic and antiproliferative activities, but the maintenance of the keto bridge produces a potent analogue with the unusual 2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl moiety.