Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of N-Acetylated Triindolylmethanes

Abstract

Triindolylmethanes or N-acetylated triindolylmethanes were synthesized with high yields by treating indoles with indole-3-carboxaldehydes in acetic acid and acetic anhydride. In vitro screening showed that bis(indole-3-yl)-(N-acetylindole-3'-yl)methane (3a) and bis(2-methylindole-3-yl)-(N-acetylindole-3'-yl)methane (3b) possessed moderate cytotoxic activity against Lu-04 cell line with GI(50) of 19 muM and 33 muM, respectively.