Synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)methyl]-5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole/4 H-1,2,4-triazole analogues

We report herein the synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxicity evaluations of some newer oxadiazole and triazole analogues (5a-j). The cytotoxicity of all the title compounds were evaluated as per the National Cancer Institute protocol in a one-dose assay (10 mu M) on nine different panels of 59 cancer cell line. 2-{5-[(2,4-Dichlorophenoxy)methyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl} phenol (5e) showed the maximum cytotoxicity among the series of ten compounds. The cytotoxicity of 5e was comparable to that of the standard anticancer drug, 5-fluorouracil, and better than that of imatinib. The structure activity relationship was also discussed.