Pyrrolo[2,3-a]carbazoles as Potential Cyclin Dependent Kinase 1 (CDK1) Inhibitors. Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Binding Mode through Docking Simulations

Pyrrolo[2,3- a]carbazole derivatives were synthesized, and their effects on CDK1/cyclinB activity were evaluated. The most potent and efficacious inhibitor was found to be ethyl 9-chloro-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-alpha]carbazole-2-carboxylate (1e), exhibiting an IC50 in the low micromolar range and leading to 90% at higher concentrations. Using a computational model for CDK1-1e, binding we have observed that 1e exhibited two likely binding modes in the ATP-binding cleft that involve interactions with Lys130, Thr14, and Asp146 of the enzyme.