2-(6-aryl-3(Z)-hexen-1,5-diynyl)anilines as a new class of potent antitubulin agents.

Compounds 2a- h and 6 displayed significant GI 50 values of 10(-7)-10(-6) M against various cancer cell lines. Of these compounds, 2-(6-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl))-3(Z)-hexen-1,5-diynyl)aniline (2c) showed the most potent growth inhibition activity. Compound 2c also arrested cancer cells in the G2/M phase and in low concentration reduced a significant percentage of MDA-MB-231/ATCC breast cancer tetraploid cells. In addition to the G2/M block, compound 2c caused microtubule depolymerization and induced apoptosis via activation of the caspase family.