Synthesis and evaluation of anticancer activities of 2- or 4-substituted 3-(N-benzyltriazolylmethyl)-13α-oestrone derivatives

2- or 4-Substituted 3-N-benzyltriazolylmethyl-13α-oestrone derivatives were synthesised via bromination of ring A and subsequent microwave-assisted, Pd-catalysed C(sp(2))–P couplings. The antiproliferative activities of the newly synthesised brominated and phosphonated compounds against a panel of human cancer cell lines (A2780, MCF-7, MDA-MB 231) were investigated by means of MTT assays. The most potent compound, the 3-N-benzyltriazolylmethyl-4-bromo-13α-oestrone derivative exerted substantial selective cell growth-inhibitory activity against A2780 cell line with a submicromolar IC(50) value. Computational calculations reveal strong interactions of the 4-bromo derivative with both colchicine and taxoid binding sites of tubulin. Disturbance of tubulin function has been confirmed by photometric polymerisation assay.