Synthesis and evaluation of new 2-chloro-4-aminopyrimidine and 2,6-dimethyl-4-aminopyrimidine derivatives as tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

•Eighteen new MPC-6827 analogues were synthesized and evaluated.•Several compounds exhibited potent antiproliferative activities.•Compound 17 could halt cell cycle progression at the G2/M phase.•Compound 17 could also induce cell apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction.