Design and synthesis of (E)-1,1,2-triarylethenes: novel inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) isozyme

A novel class of acyclic 1,1,2-triaryl (E)-ethenes was designed that were synthesized via an (E)-selective Takeda olefination reaction. Among the group of compounds evaluated, (E)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-1-phenylethene (10c) emerged as the most potent (COX-2 IC50 = 0.0316 μM), and selective (selectivity index > 3164), COX-2 inhibitor.