Multifunctional properties of novel tacrine congeners: cholinesterase inhibition and cytotoxic activity.

This review describes the synthesis of a wide range of novel tetrahydroacridine derivatives (tiocyanates, selenocyanates, ureas, selenoureas, thioureas, isothioureas, disulfides, diselenides and several tacrine homo- and hetro-hybrids). These tacrine congeners exhibit significant anticholinesterase and cytotoxic properties and may therefore be of considerable potential for the development of new drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.