Compounds and related methods for synthesis, and the use of compounds and combination therapies for the treatment of cancer and modulation of apoptosis in cells are disclosed. The generation of synthetic combinatorial libraries and the evaluation of library member compounds regarding induction of apoptosis selectively in cancer cells are disclosed. Compounds, methods of making the compounds, and therapeutic methods with application against breast cancer cells, melanoma cancer cells, colon cancer cells, and other cancer cells are described.