The Preparation and Anticancer Activity of Some Phosphorus Heterocycles

Abstract

Methods for the preparation of some phosphorus heterocycles are reviewed, together with a preliminary report of their activity in vitro against the NCI 60-cell line panel of human tumour cells. The most active compound, a dimer of 3-methyl-1-(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)phosphole oxide, showed GI50 values in the micromolar region against leukaemia cell lines RPMI-8226 and SR, non-small cell lung cancer (NCI-H460), colon cancer (COLO 205), and melanoma (SK-Mel-5 and UACC-62).