Triphenylmethylamides (TPMAs): Structure–activity relationship of compounds that induce apoptosis in melanoma cells

Triphenylmethylamides (TPMAs) have been previously identified as compounds that arrest cells in the G1-phase of the cell cycle and induce apoptotic death in melanoma cell lines in culture. Here we report the synthesis of a series of TPMA derivatives, allowing the structure–activity relationship of this class of molecules to be established. Several new compounds have been identified that induce death in UACC-62 and SK-MEL-5 human melanoma cell lines, including a compound with enhanced aqueous solubility.