Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel bis(benzylidene-benzenamine)disulfides

A pharmaceutical composition for treating a cancer, comprising a bis(benzylidene-benzenamine)disulfide represented by formula III:

• wherein the ring A has four sequentially bound carbon atoms, respectively bound with four R7s, each R7 is one selected from the group consisting of CH3, C2H5, C3H7, C4H9, C5H11, C6H13, a nitrite CF3, and a halide, the ring B has a para-carbon atom and a meta-carbon atom respectively bound with two R8s, and each R8 is one selected from the group consisting of CH3, C2H5, C3H7, C4H9, C5H11, C6H13, a nitrite, CF3, a halide, OCH3, OC2H5, OC3H7, OC4H9, OC5H11, and OC6H13.

A preparation method of a pharmaceutical composition for treating a cancer, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a bis(benzylidene-benzenamine)disulfide, the method comprising a step of:

• synthesizing the bis(benzylidene-benzenamine)disulfide from two thiobenzamides with an oxidizing reagent, wherein each of the two thiobenzamides is represented by formula IV:
• wherein the ring A has four sequentially bound carbon atoms, four R7s are respectively bound with the four carbon atoms, each R7 is one of a first electron-withdrawing group (EWG) and a hydrogen, the ring B has a para-carbon atom and a meta-carbon atom, two R8s are respectively bound with the para-carbon atom and the meta-carbon atom, and each R8 is one selected from the group consisting of a second EWG, an electron-donating group (EDG) and a hydrogen.