1-Aryl-4,6-dihydropyrazolo[4,3-d][1]benzazepin-5(1H)-ones: a new class of antiproliferative agents with selectivity for human leukemia and breast cancer cell lines.

The synthesis of 1-aryl-4,6-dihydropyrazolo[4,3-d][1]benzazepin-5(1H)-ones by cyclization of 4-[(dimethylamino)methylidene]-3,4-dihydro-1H-[1]benzazepine-2,5-dione with arylhydrazines is reported. When tested on a panel of human cancer cell lines, the title compounds showed antiproliferative activity and a characteristic selectivity pattern of growth inhibition. Although structurally akin to established kinase inhibitors, the new compounds did not exhibit noteworthy inhibitory activity when tested on an array of cancer-related kinases.