Synthesis and biological properties of iron chelators based on a bis-2-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)-thiazole-4-carboxamide or -thiocarboxamide (BHPTC) scaffold.

Bis-2-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)-thiazole-4-carboxamides or -thiocarboxamides (BHPTCs) are efficient bis-tridentate iron chelators with promising biological properties: lipophilic dithioamide BHPTC (R=CH3, X=S) displayed in vitro an antiproliferative activity on several cancerous cell lines when hydrophilic diamide BHPTC (R=H, X=O) proved to be as efficient and less toxic as deferoxamine (DFO) when tested for its cytoprotective activity against iron overload.