Synthesis and bioevaluation of N-(arylalkyl)-homospermidine conjugates

N1-(Arylalkyl)homospermidines (1c–1f) and terminally piperazine-substituted homospermidine conjugates (2a–2e) were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity in mouse leukemia L1210, α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO)-treated L1210, melanoma B16, spermidine (SPD)-treated B16, and HeLa cell lines. Results demonstrated that homospermidine was a more effective vector than piperazine-substituted homospermidine in ferrying diverse arenes into cells via the polyamine transporter. The leading compound, 9-anthracenemethyl-homospermidine (1a), was shown to induce apoptosis in B16 cells and IL-3 dependent FL5.12A pro-B cells. The novel conjugate 4-biphenylmethyl-homospermidine (1e) could also induce apoptosis. However, it exhibited different effect on the cell cycle of B16 cells compared to 1a.