Antimitotic activity of structurally simplified biaryl analogs of the anticancer agents colchicine and combretastatin A4

Two substituted biaryl analogues of colchicine and combretastatin A4, readily available through a one-step, protecting group free Suzuki-Miyaura reaction were discovered to exhibit anticancer activity while simultaneously being of low cytotoxicity to noncancerous cell lines. The compounds were shown to initiate apoptosis selectively via a mechanism involving inhibition of tubulin polymerization.