N-Aryltriazole ribonucleosides with potent antiproliferative activity against drug-resistant pancreatic cancer

Abstract Novel N -aryltriazole nucleosides were synthesized via Cu-mediated C–N cross-coupling reaction starting with 3-aminotriazole ribonucleoside and various boronic acids. Two of them exhibited potent apoptosis-related antiproliferative activity against the drug-resistant pancreatic cancer cell line MiaPaCa-2, with an increased potency compared to gemcitabine, the reference treatment for pancreatic cancer. A preliminary SAR study suggests that the appended N -aryl moiety and the substituent at its para -position, as well as the ribose sugar component, contribute considerably to the observed antiproliferative activity.