Conformationally locked calixarene-based histone deacetylase inhibitors

Alkyl- and arylamidocalix[4]arene derivatives 1-11 have been designed and theoretically evaluated by docking studies as potential histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi). On the basis of the trimodal distribution of the calculated inhibition constants (Ki), five alkyl- or arylamido derivatives (3, 7, 8, 9, and 11) were synthesized and tested. A qualitative accordance between the experimental results and the theoretical predictions was obtained, confirming that appropriately substituted arylamidocalix[4]arenes are active HDACi.