Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of 1-{3-[1-(5-organylsilylfuran-2-yl)silinan-1-yl]propyl}amines and some trimethylgermyl analogues.

New highly cytotoxic 1-{3-[1-(5-organylsilyl-furan-2-yl)silinan-1-yl]propyl}amines and some trimethylgermyl analogues (IC50 1-7 μg mL(-1)) have been synthesized by a hydrosilylation reaction of aliphatic and heterocyclic N-allylamines in the presence of Speier's catalyst. The effects of the silacycle, the element-organic substituent in position 5 of the furan ring, and the structure of the amine on the cytotoxicity of the new compounds have been studied.