To discover novel structurally soluble lead compounds for antitumor researches, 1-amino-2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-5-(2-benzoylethylthio)-s-triazole (1) was condensed with 1-amino-s-triazole-5-thiols (2a～2e) in the presence of concentrated H₂SO₄ to obtain bis-(s-triazole) Schiff-bases 3a～3e, which were subjected to a nucleophilic substitution with N,N-dimethyl-2-chloroethylamine to produce the corresponding bis-(s-triazole) Schiff-bases bearing a basic side chain 4a～4e. Condensation of compounds 4a～4e with salicylaldehyde afforded asymmetric bis-(s-triazole Schiff-base)s 5a～5e, namely 2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-1-salicylideneamino-5-{3-phenyl-3-[N-(2-(2-dimethylaminoethylthio)-s-triazol-1-yl)imino]propylthio}-s-tria-zoles, respectively. The structures of new com-pounds synthesized were characterized by elemental analysis and spectral data, and their in vitro an-titumor activity was also assayed against three cancer cells of CHO, HL60 and L1210 by an methylthiazole-trazolium (MTT) method. Among the fifteen novel compounds synthesized, bis(Schiff base)s 5a～5e showed the most potent cytotoxicity with the IC₅₀ below 20.0 μmol•L^－1, especially 5c bearing two (2-methoxyphenyl triazole) rings was comparable to bisantrene.

Key words: bis-(Schiff-base), s-triazole, synthesis, antitumor activity