Flavonoid Derivatives Targeting BCR-ABL Kinase: Semisynthesis, Molecular Dynamic Simulations and Enzymatic Inhibition

Background: Natural products have been universally approached in the research of novel trends useful to detail the essential paths of the life sciences and as a strategy for pharmacotherapeutics. Objective: This work focuses on further modification to the 6-hydroxy-flavanone building block aiming to obtain improved BCR-ABL kinase inhibitors. Methods: Ether derivatives were obtained from Williamson synthesis and triazole from Microwave-assisted click reaction. Chemical structures were finely characterized through IR, H-1 and C-13 NMR and HRMS. They were tested for their inhibitory activity against BCR-ABL kinase. Results: Two inhibitors bearing a triazole ring as a pharmacophoric bridge demonstrated the strongest kinase inhibition at IC50 value of 364 nM (compound 3j) and 275 nM (compound 3k). Conclusion: 6-hydroxy-flavanone skeleton can be considered as a promising core for BCR-ABL kinase inhibitors.