Synthesis and antitumor evaluation of novel monoindolyl-4-trifluoromethylpyridines and bisindolyl-4-trifluoromethylpyridines

A series of novel monoindolyl-4-trifluoromethylpyridines and bisindolyl-4-trifluoromethylpyridines was designed and synthesized as potential antitumor agents. They were evaluated for preliminary cytotoxic activity against P388 and A-549 cells with IC50 values. 4-Trifluoromethyl-2,6-bis[3′-(N-tosyl-6′-methoxyl-indolyl)] pyridine was identified as the most potent in this series.