Synthesis and Antiproliferative and Antilipolytic Activities of a Series of 1,3- and 1,4-Bis[5-(R-sulfanyl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)benzenes

A series of 1,3 and 1,4-bis[5-(R-sulfanyl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)benzene derivatives were synthesized by the reaction of isophthalic and terephthalic acid hydrazides with methyl and aryl isothiocyanates, followed by base-catalyzed cyclization and alkylation of the resulting bis-triazolethiols with alkyl bromides. The suggested obesity–colorectal cancer association initiated evaluation of the antiproliferative activity of the newly synthesized compounds against a panel of obesity-related colorectal cells and inhibition of pancreatic lipase (PL). In vitro enzymatic, colorimetric, and cell culture bioassays were carried out with respective reference agents. Among the tested compounds, 1,3-bis{5-[(4-bromobenzyl)sulfanyl]-4-methyl-4 H -1,2,4-triazol-3-yl}benzene showed clearly promising, though unselective, cytotoxicity in HT29, HCT116, SW620, CACO2, and SW480 cancer cells with a PL-IC 50 value of 9.57±1.21 μM (