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Several valuable biologically active molecules can be obtained through C–H activation processes. However, the use of expensive and not readily accessible catalysts complicates the process of pharmacological application of these compounds. A plausible way to overcome this issue is developing and using cheaper, more accessible, and equally effective catalysts. First-row transition (3d) metals have shown to be important catalysts in this matter. This review summarizes the use of 3d metal catalysts in C–H activation processes to obtain potentially (or proved) biologically active compounds.

Diverse structural frameworks are found in natural compounds and are well known for their chemical and biological properties; such compounds include the imidazoles and oxazoles. Researchers worldwide are continually working on the development of methods for synthesizing new molecules bearing these basic moiety and evaluating their properties and applications. To expand the knowledge related to azoles, this review summarizes important examples of imidazole and oxazole derivatives from 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds, such as lapachones and phenanthrene-9,10-diones, not only regarding their synthesis and biological applications but also their photophysical properties and uses. The data concerning the latter are particularly scarce in the literature, which leads to underestimation of the potential applications that can be envisaged for these compounds.

Double ruthenium(II)-catalyzed alkyne annulations of quinones were accomplished. Thus, a strategy is reported that provides step-economical access to valuable quinones with a wide range of applications. C-H/N-H activations for alkyne annulations of naphthoquinones provided challenging polycyclic quinoidal compounds by forming four new bonds in one step. The singular power of the thus-obtained compounds was reflected by their antileukemic activity.

The reaction of β-ketosulfones with different α-functionalized nitroalkenes affords diversely substituted sulfonylfurans and dihydrofurans. Furthermore, β-ketosulfones react with α-bromonitroalkenes and α-hydrazinonitroalkenes via a cascade Michael addition-cyclization protocol to afford nitrodihydrofurans and hydrazinodihydrofurans, respectively, bearing a key sulfonyl group, in excellent yields with a broad substrate scope. Application of these products has been demonstrated by the synthesis of pyrroles and pyrazoles in good yields. The reaction of β-ketosulfones with nitroallylic acetates yields tetrasubstituted sulfonyl furans through a cascade S

Ortho-Quinones represent a special class of redox active compounds associated with a spectrum of pronounced biological activities, including selective cytotoxicity and antimicrobial actions. The modification of the quinone ring by simple nitrogen and sulphur substitutions leads to several new classes of compounds with their own, distinct redox behaviour and equally distinct activities against cancer cell lines and Trypanosoma cruzi. Some of the compounds investigated show activity against T. cruzi at concentrations of 24.3 and 65.6 μM with a selectivity index of around 1. These results demonstrate that simple chemical modifications on the ortho-quinone ring system, in particular, by heteroatoms such as nitrogen and sulphur, transform these simple redox molecules into powerful cytotoxic agents with considerable “potential”, not only in synthesis and electrochemistry, but also, in a broader sense, in health sciences.

The first examples of Rh-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloadditions between diynes and benzoquinones are described. The method enables de novo and step-economical access to challenging naphthoquinones that are of relevance to lignan and type II polyketide synthesis. The value of the chemistry is demonstrated by a short total synthesis of justicidone.

Herein we designed a collection of trimethyl-lock quinone profluorophores as activity-based probes for imaging NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) in cancer cells and tumour tissues. Profluorophores were prepared via synthetic routes from naturally-occurring quinones and characterised in vitro using recombinant enzymes, to be further validated in cells and fresh frozen canine tumour tissues as potential new tools for cancer detection and imaging.

The current manuscript describes the catalysts in click chemistry reactions, mechanism insights and use of other metals beyond copper associated with Azide-Alkyne Cycloadditions (AAC). Due to their biological importance and several applications in various areas of science, significant efforts have been devoted to devise robust methods for the synthesis of triazoles. Among these approaches, azide-alkyne cycloadditions strategy has been consolidated as a powerful tool for preparing this class of heterocycles. Herein, click reactions involving catalysis with metals other than copper are presented and critically discussed.

New boro-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) fluorophores substituted with phosphoramidate groups have been synthesized using environmentally friendly methodologies, and their photophysical properties were evaluated experimentally and characterized in detail with respect to DFT and TD-DFT using B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level of theory. These fluorophores may be used as promising candidates for biological probes and optical materials.

From the recent development of catalytically controlled C-H activation with amenable synthetic routes obviating many challenges, the demand for this strategy has raised significantly to perform complex organic transformations. The impact of the achieved results in both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis reflects its efficacy in modern synthetic chemistry. A consolidated report and guidance of the methodologies involved in the previous and ongoing research in this domain would be very useful for the researchers to focus on more specific and selective C-H activation reactions to access desired complex molecular scaffolds. The perspective of this review is to contribute to the scientific community with examples, tips and details of modern development in this field and with a complete illustration of the routes which may be effective for planning of the ubiquitous C-H bond activation and its use for synthesis of relevant organic molecules.

The continuous emergence of resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis keeps tuberculosis (TB) treatment options still insufficient, and new therapeutic alternatives are urgently needed. Considering the antimycobacterial activity of phenazine derivatives previously reported by our research group, we aimed to explore possible applications to circumvent the resistance in M. tuberculosis. Firstly, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of seven benzo[a]phenazine derivatives against eleven M. tuberculosis strains: ten resistant and one susceptible (H37 Rv). Then, we determined the cytotoxicity of benzo[a]phenazine derivatives and investigated the possible mechanism of action of the most promising compound. Among them, compound 10 was the only one active against all strains evaluated, with a minimum inhibitory concentration between 18.3 and 146.5 µM. For some resistant strains, this compound showed antimicrobial activity higher than rifampicin and it was also active against MDR strains, indicating an absence of cross-resistance with anti-TB drugs. Also, 10 showed a pharmacological safety for further in vivo studies and its mechanism of action seems to be related to oxidative stress. Thus, our findings indicate that benzo[a]phenazine derivatives are promising scaffolds for the development of new anti-TB drugs, mainly focusing on the treatment of resistant TB cases.

Metal-catalysed C-H functionalization has emerged as a powerful platform for the derivatization of quinones, a class of compounds with wide-ranging applications. This review organises and discusses the evolution of this chemistry from early Fujiwara-Moritani reactions, through to modern directing-group assisted C-H functionalization processes, including C-H functionalization reactions directed by the quinone ring itself. Mechanistic details of these reactions are provided to afford insight into how the unique reactivity of quinoidal compounds has been leveraged in each example.

Two new series of hitherto unknown dipeptides, containing an electrophilic nitrile or a non-electrophilic 2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety were synthesized and evaluated in vitro as Cathepsin K (Cat K) inhibitors. From 14 compounds obtained, the oxadiazole derivatives 10a, 10b, 10e, and 10g acted as enzymatic competitive inhibitors with Ki values between 2.13 and 7.33 µM. Molecular docking calculations were carried out and demonstrated that all inhibitors performed hydrogen bonds with residues from the enzyme active site, such as Asn18. The best inhibitors (10a, 10b, 10g) could also perform these bonds with Cys25, and 10a showed the most stabilizing interaction energy (−134.36 kcal mol−1) with the active cavity. For the first time, derivatives based in 2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazole scaffolds were evaluated, and the results suggested that this core displays a remarkable potential as a building block for Cat K inhibitors.

Ruthenium(II)-catalysis enabled C–H alkenylations of unactivated naphthoquinones for the preparation of A-ringmodified naphthoquinoidal compounds with activity against Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite causing Chagas disease. The present study encompasses C–H alkenylation by weak O-coordi-nation by means of ruthenium(II) carboxylates. This method provided an efficient and versatile tool towards a diversityoriented strategy for the preparation of compounds with a relevant biological profile.

International audience; A heterogeneous catalyst was assembled with ruthenium nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes and used in a mild oxidation method to prepare sulfones from sulfides. The system proved very efficient on the investigated substrates and the products were obtained in high yields.

Photoluminescence and phosphorescence emissions of solid-state phenazine films were investigated in steady-state experimental conditions. Important discrepancies were observed for blended films where a host optically inert matrix was introduced to disperse the probe molecules. A vibronic spin-orbit phosphorescent emission clearly appeared, while for the films solely composed by the probe molecules, the phosphorescence broadened and presented a structureless shape, shifted to longer wavelengths. Further Arrhenius behavior analysis on the photoluminescent and phosphorescent emissions on temperature, corroborated the direct and reverse intersystem crossing interplay between singlet and triplet states. Molecular aggregation is responsible for the deterioration of non-blended triazole films phosphorescence.

Quinones are privileged chemical structures playing crucial roles as redox and alkylating agents in a wide range of processes in cells. The broad functional array of quinones has prompted the development of new chemical approaches, including C-H bond activation and asymmetric reactions, to generate probes for examining their activity by means of fluorescence imaging. This tutorial review covers recent advances in the design, synthesis and applications of quinone-based fluorescent agents for visualizing specific processes in multiple biological systems, from cells to tissues and complex organisms in vivo.

We report a sequential C–H iodination/organoyl-thiolation of naphthoquinones and their relevant trypanocidal activity. Under a combination of AgSR with a copper source, sulfur-substituted benzenoid quinones were prepared in high yields (generally >90%). This provides an efficient and general method for preparing A-ring modified naphthoquinoidal systems, recognized as a challenge in quinone chemistry.

This paper reports the results of the synthesis and structural elucidation by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction of a new series of four examples of 1,1-difluoro-3-methyl-9-(aryl/heteroaryl)-7-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-[1,3,5,2]oxadiazaborinino[3,4-a][1,8]naphthyridin-11-ium-1-uides, which were obtained, at good yields (60–66%), from the reaction of 7-substituted N-(5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)acetamides — in which the 7-substituents are C6H5, 4-CH3C6H4, 4-FC6H4, and 2-Thienyl — with BF3·Et2O solution. One-dimensional multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 19F, and 11B) and two-dimensional 1H–15N HMBC are presented as powerful tools for an easy and secure NMR chemical shift assignments and structural characterization of fluorinated 1,8-naphthyridine-based boron complexes. Additionally, investigations of photophysical, electrochemical and DNA-binding properties were done.

Ruthenium-catalysis enabled the C-5 selective C-H oxygenation of naphthoquinones, and also sets the stage for the site-selective introduction of a hydroxyl group into anthraquinones. A-ring modified naphthoquinoidal compounds represent an important class of bioactive quinones for which the present study encompasses the first C-H oxygenation strategy by weak O-coordination.

Dropcast films of very low concentration domains of phenazine 1,2,3-triazole molecules, blended in a Zeonex matrix, were studied by steady-state fluorescence as a function of temperature. These domains, randomly spread in the volume of the films, presented emission characteristics of singlet and triplet states coming from different molecular conformations. Emissions of singlet monomers, dimers or more complex aggregates, as well two distinct triplet phosphorescent bands, were observed to appear concomitantly or in isolated forms. From the analysis of the experimental results, the additional red-shifted phosphorescent band appeared as a consequence of the formation of dimer and/or more complex aggregated states. The emission characteristics of both phosphorescent bands were classified as coming from ensembles of a few interactive molecules. This statement was assumed based on the absence of replica modes of vibrational spin–orbit interactions.

We report a new method for A-ring selenation of naphthoquinones and anthraquinones and discuss the relevant trypanocidal activity of the synthesized compounds. We have demonstrated three efficient strategies for the preparation of the target selenium derivatives, i.e. (a) copper(I) thiophene-2-carboxylate and in situ generated Santi's reagent were used to prepare selenium-substituted benzenoid quinones, (b) copper complexes and (c) carbon nanotube-supported copper ferrite as catalysts in the presence of AgSeR-salts were also used for the synthesis of selenium-containing quinoidal derivatives. These new methods provide efficient and practical strategies for the preparation of selenium-based quinones. In addition, we have discovered nine compounds with potent trypanocidal activity. The derivatives 2a–2e showed potent trypanocidal activity with IC50 values in the range of 13.3 to 37.0 μM.

Naphthoquinones are of key importance in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. In the last few years, various synthetic routes have been developed to prepare bioactive compounds derived or based on lapachones. In this sense, this review is mainly focused on the synthetic aspects and strategies used for the design of these compounds on the basis of their biological activities for the development of drugs against the neglected diseases leishmaniases and Chagas disease and also cancer. Three strategies used to develop bioactive quinones are discussed and categorized: (i) C-ring modification, (ii) redox centre modification and (iii) A-ring modification. Framed within these strategies for the development of naphthoquinoidal compounds against T. cruzi. Leishmania and cancer, reactions including copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (click chemistry), palladium-catalysed cross couplings, C-H activation reactions, Ullmann couplings and heterocyclisations reported up to July 2019 will be discussed. The aim of derivatisation is the generation of novel molecules that can potentially inhibit cellular organelles/processes, generate reactive oxygen species and increase lipophilicity to enhance penetration through the plasma membrane. Modified lapachones have emerged as promising prototypes for the development of drugs against leishmaniases, Chagas disease and cancer.

Isoniazid-naphthoquinone hybrids were synthesized and evaluated against a susceptible (H37Rv) strain and two isoniazid-resistant strains (INHR1 and INHR2) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The antimycobacterial activity of the derivatives was determined based on the resazurin microtiter assay and their cytotoxicity in adhered mouse monocyte macrophage J774.A1 cells (ATCC TIB-67). Of the twenty-two compounds evaluated against the three strains of M. tuberculosis, twenty-one presented some activity against the H37Rv and INHR1 (katG S315T) or INHR2 (inhA C(−5)T) strains. Compounds 1a, 2a, and 8a were effective against the INHR1 strain, and compounds 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, 5a, 5b and 8a were effective against the INHR2 strain, with MICs in the range of 3.12–6.25 µg/mL. Compounds 1b and 5b were the most active against H37Rv, with MIC of 0.78 µg/mL. Based on the selectivity index, 1b and 5b can be considered safe as a drug candidate compounds. These results demonstrate that quinoidal compounds can be used as promising scaffolds for the development of new anti-TB drugs and hybrids with activity against M. tuberculosis-susceptible and INH-resistant strains.

against Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, was accomplished. With the use of ruthenium (II)- or palladium(II)-based catalysts, complementary regioselectivities were observed in the hydroxylation reactions and we have identified 9 compounds more potent than benznidazole (Bz) among these novel arylated and hydroxylated quinones. For instance, 5-hydroxy-2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1,4-naphthoquinone (4h) with an IC50/24 h value of 22.8 μM is 4.5-fold more active than the state-of-the-art drug Bz. This article provides the first example of the application of C–H activation for the position-selective hydroxylation of arylated quinones and the identification of these compounds as trypanocidal drug candidates.

Phenazinic ligands and Ru(II)-based complexes were synthesized from natural products lapachol and lawsone and evaluated against T. cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. These new ruthenium compounds could provide promising trypanocidal drugs. Besides synthesis and trypanocidal activity, this paper reports photophysical features and computational details of the compounds. The fluorescent trypanocidal substances are promising derivatives for further studies aiming to find molecules active against parasites associated with neglected diseases.

A new series of nine examples of 9-aryl-3-(aryl/heteroaryl)-1,1-difluoro-7-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-[1,3,5,2]oxadiazaborinino[3,4-a][1,8]naphthyridin-11-ium-1-uides, which contained 1,8-naphthyridine-based boron complexes with variable ligand structures, were synthesized at yields of 50–65% from the reaction of unpublished 2-benzoylamino-7-aryl(heteroaryl)-5-trifluoromethyl-1,8-naphthyridines—in which aryl(heteroaryl) = phenyl, 4-MeC6H4, 4-FC6H4, 4-BrC6H4, 4-OMeC6H4, 4-NO2C6H4, and 2-thienyl—with BF3·Et2O and fully characterized by 1H-, 13C-, 19F-, and 11B NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The optical and electrochemical properties of the new complexes were investigated, and the results for quantum yield calculations, Stokes shift, UV–vis, fluorescence, and redox potential data analysis indicated an important relationship with the aryl(heteroaryl) substituents attached to the 3- and 9-position of the naphthyridine boron complexes.

Phenazine derivative molecules were studied using steady state and time resolved fluorescence techniques and demonstrated to lead to strong formation of aggregated species, identified as dimers by time dependent density functional theory calculations. Blended films in a matrix of Zeonex®, produced at different concentrations, showed different contributions of dimer and monomer emissions in a prompt time frame, e.g. less than 50 ns. In contrast, the phosphorescence (e.g. emission from the triplet state) shows no significant effect on dimer formation, although strong dependence of the phosphorescence intensity on concentration is observed, leading to phosphorescence being quenched at higher concentration.

We describe a new synthetic methodology for the preparation of fluorescent π-extended phenazines from the naturally-occurring naphthoquinone lapachol. These novel structures represent the first fluorogenic probes based on the phenazine scaffold for imaging of lipid droplets in live cells. Systematic characterization and analysis of the compounds in vitro and in cells led to the identification of key structural features responsible for the fluorescent behaviour of quinone-derived π-extended phenazines. Furthermore, live-cell imaging experiments identified one compound (P1) as a marker for intracellular lipid droplets with minimal background and enhanced performance over the lipophilic tracker Nile Red.

Compounds featuring weakly-coordinating N-oxides or carbonyl groups, as for instance, quinoline N-oxide and quinonoid systems represent important structural scaffolds with potential biological activities. Due to their biological importance, significant efforts have been devoted to devise robust methods for their step-economical preparation. Among these approaches, the C–H activation strategy has emerged as a powerful, versatile and efficient tool in molecular sciences. This feature article summarizes recent key advances in transition-metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization for A-ring functionalization of heterocyclic and quinoidal compounds by challenging weakly-coordinating entities, published prior to May 2018.

Quinonoid compounds based on 5-iodo-1,4-disubstituted-, 1,4- and 1,5-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles were synthesized using simple methodologies and evaluated against T. cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, and cancer cell lines PC3, HCT-116, HL-60, MDA-MB-435 and SF-295. The cytotoxic potential of the lapachones was also assayed against peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Two compounds 6 and 12 were identified as potential hits against T. cruzi. β-Lapachone-based 1,5-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazole (12) displayed an IC50/24 h = 125.1 μM, similar to benznidazole, the standard drug. Compound 12 was also more active than the precursor β-lapachone against the cancer cell lines. These compounds acting as multitarget quinoidal systems could provide promising new leads for the development of trypanocidal and/or anticancer drugs.

This work describes a synthetic strategy for the syntheses of four new fluorescent excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) prone oxazole derivatives synthesized from lapachol, a naturally occurring naphthoquinone isolated from the Tabebuia species (ipe tree). DFT calculations were performed to understand the ESIPT stabilizing process of these new derivatives. The new structures were designed to have improved lipophilic and balanced hydrophobic properties toward a selective cellular staining of lipid-based structures, that is, lipid inclusions in the cytosol. Cell-imaging experiments returned interesting results and showed the molecular architecture of the four derivatives had a great influence over the stabilizing processes in the excited state and over the selection of lipid inclusions inside the cells.

Morita-Baylis-Hillman acetates and α-bromonitroalkenes have been employed in cascade reactions with lawsone and 2-aminonaphthoquinone for the one-pot synthesis of heterocycle fused quinonoid compounds. The reactions reported here utilized the 1,3-binucleophilic potential of hydroxy- and aminonaphthoquinones and the 1,2/1,3-bielectrophilic potential of bromonitroalkenes and Morita-Baylis-Hillman acetates for the synthesis of pyrrole and furan fused naphthoquinones. The synthesized compounds were evaluated against HCT-116 (human colon carcinoma cells), PC3 (human prostate cancer cells), HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemia cells), SF295 (human glioblastoma cells) and NCI-H460 (human lung cancer cells) and exhibited antitumor activity with IC50 values as low as

Thirty four halogen and selenium-containing quinones, synthesized by rhodium-catalyzed C-H bond activation and palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, were evaluated against bloodstream trypomastigotes of T. cruzi. We have identified fifteen compounds with IC50/24 h values of less than 2 μM. Electrochemical studies on A-ring functionalized naphthoquinones were also performed aiming to correlate redox properties with trypanocidal activity. For instance, (E)-5-styryl-1,4-naphthoquinone 59 and 5,8-diiodo-1,4-naphthoquinone 3, which are around fifty fold more active than the standard drug benznidazole, are potential derivatives for further investigation. These compounds represent powerful new agents useful in Chagas disease therapy.

Quinone-based N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles were synthesized by click chemistry and subsequently evaluated against eight types of cancer cell lines. Some of the compounds exhibited potent cytotoxicity with IC50 values < 1.0 mu M. Also, the cytotoxic potential of the quinones was evaluated against peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) and V79 cells. Additionally, the chemical reactivity of Rh(II) aza-vinyl carbenes generated in situ from these triazoles was studied. These compounds could provide promising new lead derivatives for more potent anticancer drug development.

The optical properties of phenazine derivative probe solutions involving intersystem crossing from singlet to triplet states were investigated by time resolved spectroscopy. The room temperature phosphorescence emission presented different time responses when Cd2+ ions were bound to the probe chemical structure. The complex exciplex formation observed to occur in this case was not directly responsible for the change in the phosphorescence lifetime. This was more influenced by the new molecular conformation and modified spin–orbit coupling imposed by the binding of the Cd2+ ions to the phenazine molecules.

For the first time, a fluorescent lapachone-based BODIPY was synthesised and characterised by NMR and mass spectrometry. Computational and electrochemical aspects, as well as cytotoxic activity and subcellular localisation, were studied. Confocal microscopy experiments indicated that the probe was a specific mitochondria-staining agent. These in-detail analyses were useful in understanding the cytotoxic effects and mechanism of action of this novel hybrid compound. This molecule constitutes a promising prototype owing to its potential biological activities and the new strategies aimed at mechanistic investigations in cells and in vivo, and opens up an interesting avenue of research.

Under Rh-catalyzed conditions, typically electrophilic 1,4-benzoquinones exhibit nucleophilic reactivity, such that exposure to appropriate electrophiles generates products of C-H iodination, bromination, and phenylselenation. This provides a mild and general method for direct halofunctionalization, and the first method that can achieve direct C-H phenylselenation of this compound class. The scope and limitations of the new protocols are outlined, and representative derivatizations are highlighted.

Selenium-containing quinone-based 1,2,3-triazoles were synthesized using click chemistry, the copper catalyzed azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, and evaluated against six types of cancer cell lines: HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemia cells), HCT-116 (human colon carcinoma cells), PC3 (human prostate cells), SF295 (human glioblastoma cells), MDA-MB-435 (melanoma cells) and OVCAR-8 (human ovarian carcinoma cells). Some compounds showed IC50 values < 0.3 mu M. The cytotoxic potential of the quinones evaluated was also assayed using non-tumor cells, exemplified by peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC), V79 and L929 cells. Mechanistic role for NAD(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) was also elucidated. These compounds could provide promising new lead derivatives for more potent anticancer drug development and delivery, and represent one of the most active classes of lapachones reported. (C) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

In continuation of our quest for new redox-modulating catalytic antitumor molecules, selenium-containing quinone-based 1,2,3-triazoles were synthesized using rhodium-catalyzed C-H bond activation and click reactions. All compounds were evaluated against five types of cancer cell lines: HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemia cells), HCT-116 (human colon carcinoma cells), SF295 (human glioblastoma cells), NCIH-460 (human lung cells) and PC3 (human prostate cancer cells). Some compounds showed good activity with IC50 values below 1 µM. The cytotoxic potential of the naphthoquinoidal derivatives was also evaluated in non-tumor cells, exemplified by L929 cells. Overall, these compounds represent promising new lead derivatives and stand for a new class of chalcogenium-containing derivatives with potential antitumor activity.