Imidazole Hybrids: A Privileged Class of Heterocycles in Medicinal Chemistry with New Insights into Anticancer Activity
Zarifa Murtazaeva, Azizbek Nasrullaev, Anvarjon Buronov, Shukhrat Gaybullaev, Lifei Nie, Sodik Numonov, Zohidjon Khushnazarov, Davron Turgunov, Rustamkhon Kuryazov, Jiangyu Zhao, Khurshed Bozorov
Abstract
Imidazole is a five-membered heterocyclic system featuring two nitrogen heteroatoms at the 1- and 3-positions of the ring. The imidazole scaffold is particularly suited for kinase inhibition concepts. This further confirms that this scaffold is a privileged structure in the development of anticancer drugs. Considering these key factors and the recent focus of scientists on imidazole compounds, we discuss the anticancer activities of imidazole-containing hybrids and related compounds, highlighting articles published in 2023 that serve as a basis for medicinal chemistry leads. From a chemical perspective, the present review emphasizes hybrid molecules with an imidazole ring in the side chain, imidazole-centered hybrid molecules, condensed imidazole hybrids, hybrid compounds containing two or more imidazole rings, polycyclic imidazole hybrids, imidazole-containing metal complexes, and benzimidazole hybrids.