Syntheses and anti-cancer activities of 2-[1-(indol-3-yl-/pyrimidin-5-yl-/pyridine-2-yl-/quinolin-2-yl)-but-3-enylamino]-2-phenyl-ethanols.

Schiff bases prepared by the reactions of substituted amines with indole-/, pyrimidine-/, pyridine-/, and quinoline-aldehydes are made to undergo indium mediated allylation whereby a (substituted amine, allyl)methyl group has been introduced at C-3 of indole, C-5 of pyrimidine, and C-2 of pyridine and quinoline. Amongst the 16 compounds investigated for anti-cancer activities at 59 human tumor cell lines 3, 9-12, and 14 show appreciable activities. The structure-activity relationship studies point that the contribution of phenylglycinol moiety as a part of side chain at C-3 of indole and C-5 of pyrimidine seems to be crucial for exhibiting anti-cancer activities.