A series of 4-N-substituted 6-aryl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4-amines have been synthesised, characterised and tested for their in vitro EGFR (ErbB1) tyrosine kinase inhibitory activity. The compounds were prepared from ethyl cyanoacetate and α-bromoacetophenones via the 2-amino-3-ethoxycarbonyl-5-aryl-pyrroles and 4-chloro-6-arylpyrrolopyrimidines. Aromatic substitution with benzylic amines was performed by conventional thermal substitution, and palladium catalysed coupling. The two methods resulted in similar yields, but the palladium coupling had the benefit of lower chemical consumption and reduced reaction times. Eight of the new compounds had IC(50) values in the range of 2.8-9.0 nM. Four of these have a fluorine atom positioned at sites otherwise potentially susceptible to oxidative metabolism. Structural variation of the 6-aryl group indicated that the inhibitory action was only moderately sensitive to modifications in this fragment. However, the potency depended strongly on the structure of the aromatic part of the 4-amino group, and any aromatic substitution except fluorine reduced the in vitro activity. The cellular EGFR internalization response of selected compounds was evaluated using HeLa cells. Three fluorinated derivatives had a pronounced effect in inhibiting EGFR internalization.
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