Synthesis and Biological Investigation of Δ¹²-Prostaglandin J₃ (Δ¹²-PGJ₃) Analogues and Related Compounds

A series of Δ¹²-prostaglandin J₃ (Δ¹²-PGJ₃) analogues and derivatives were synthesized employing an array of synthetic strategies developed specifically to render them readily available for biological investigations. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against a number of cancer cell lines, revealing nanomolar potencies for a number of them against certain cancer cell lines. Four analogues (2, 11, 21, and 27) demonstrated inhibition of nuclear export through a covalent addition at Cys528 of the export receptor Crm1. One of these compounds (i.e., 11) is currently under evaluation as a potential drug candidate for the treatment of certain types of cancer. These studies culminated in useful and path-pointing structure–activity relationships (SARs) that provide guidance for further improvements in the biological/pharmacological profiles of compounds within this class.