A series of m-amidophenol derivatives (6a–6l, 7a–7q, 9a, 9b, 12a–12c, 14 and 15) were designed and synthesized. Their antitubercular activities were evaluated in vitro against M. tuberculosis strains H37Ra and H37Rv and clinically isolated multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. Ten compounds displayed minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against M. tuberculosis H37Ra below 2.5 μg mL⁻¹ and 6g was the most active compound (MIC = 0.625 μg mL⁻¹). Compounds 6g and 7a also showed potent inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv (MIC = 0.39 μg mL⁻¹) and several clinically isolated multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains (MIC = 0.39–3.125 μg mL⁻¹). The compounds did not show inhibitory activity against normal Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. They exhibited low cytotoxicity against HepG2 and RAW264.7 cell lines. The results demonstrated m-amidophenol as an attractive scaffold for the development of new antitubercular agents.

A series of 3-amino-5-benzylphenol derivatives were designed and synthesized. Among them, (3-benzyl-5-hydroxyphenyl)carbamates were found to exert good inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis H37Ra, H37Rv and clinically isolated multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains (MIC = 0.625–6.25 μg/mL). The privileged compounds 3i and 3l showed moderate cytotoxicity against cell line A549. Compound 3l also exhibited potent in vivo inhibitory activity on a mouse infection model via the oral administration. The results demonstrated 3-hydroxyphenylcarbamates as a class of new antitubercular agents with good potential.

Inspired by the potent inhibition activity of the c-Met (mesenchymal−epithelial transition factor) inhibitor Tepotinib, a series of new Tepotinib derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to act as antiproliferative agents to find the leading compounds with good activity and limited side effects. Among them, compound 31e exhibited potent antiproliferative activity (IC₅₀ (50% inhibitory concentration) = 0.026 μΜ) against hepatic carcinoma 97H (human liver cancer cell) cells and, importantly, had very low inhibitory activity against normal cells. A mechanism study demonstrated that 31e induced G1 phase (First growth phase or G indicating gap) arrest, inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Met and its downstream signaling component, Akt (Protein Kinase B), and also inhibited the migration of hepatic carcinoma 97H cells.