Methyl 3-[4-(3-arylureido)phenylamino]thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylates as potential inhibitors of VEGFR-2: synthesis and molecular modelling studies

When over expressed or mutated, protein tyrosine kinases become potent oncoproteins that cause deregulated cell growth angiogenesis and metastasis. Because of these characteristics, they are targets for small molecule inhibitors in the treatment of cancer. Recently some thieno[3,2-c]pyridine 1,3-diarylurea derivatives were prepared as VEGFR-2 (vascular endothelium growth factor receptor-2) inhibitors.1 Here we present the synthesis of methyl 3-[4-(3-arylureido)phenylamino]thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylates 2 in excellent yields, by reaction of the methyl 3-(4-aminophenylamino)thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate 1, prepared also by us, with different arylisocyanates (Scheme).