A series of 1,4,6-trisubstituted pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines 15-19, 30-38 capable of
selectively inhibiting CDK2 activity were synthesized by derivatization at C-4, C-6
and N-1 with various amines and lower alkyl groups. For above synthetic compounds,
biological evaluation was carried out and structure-activity relationship was examined.
In our series, 4-anilino compounds exhibited better CDK2 inhibitory activity and antitumor
activity compared to 4-benzyl compounds. The compounds 33a,b having a 3-fluoroaniline
group at C-4 showed comparable or superior CDK2 inhibitory activity to those of olomoucine
and roscovitine as reference compounds. In general, the unsubstituted compounds (30a,b,
33a,b, 36a,b) at N-1 possessed higher potency than the substituted compounds (32a,b,
34a,b) for the CDK2 inhibitory activity. As for EGFR inhibitory activity, most compounds
didnot have a significant activity. The compounds 32a,b exhibited potent cell growth
inhibitory activity against human cancer cell lines, but their CDK2 inhibitory activities
were slightly poorer than olomoucine.