Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel (4 or 5-aryl)pyrazolyl-indoles as inhibitors of interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (ITK).

Interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (ITK) is one of five kinases that belong to the Tec kinase family that plays an important role in T-cell and mast cell signaling. Various reports point to a role of ITK in the treatment of allergic asthma. For example, it was shown that mice lacking ITK have reduced airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation and tracheal responses in an allergic asthma model.

Studies toward the total synthesis of ristocetin A aglycone using arene-ruthenium complexes as S(N)Ar substrates: Construction of an advanced tricyclic intermediate.

Ruthenium-mediated S(N)Ar reactions are used to construct the diaryl ether linkages in two key intermediates for a projected total synthesis of the aglycone of ristocetin A.

Oxadiazole derivatives as a novel class of antimitotic agents: Synthesis, inhibition of tubulin polymerization, and activity in tumor cell lines.

Oxadiazole derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit tubulin polymerization and to cause mitotic arrest in tumor cells. The most potent compounds inhibited tubulin polymerization at concentrations below 1 microM. Lead analogs caused mitotic arrest of A431 human epidermoid cells and cells derived from multi-drug resistant tumors (10, EC(50)=7.