An Efficient Synthetic Approach towards Benzo[b]pyrano[2,3-e][1,4]diazepines, and Their Cytotoxic Activity

Abstract

In search of unprecedented tri and/or tetrapod pharmacophoric conjugates, a series of 32 new 4-ethyl-1H-benzo[b][1,4]diazepin-2(3H)-ones were synthesized and properly elucidated using MS, IR, NMR, and elemental analysis. In vitro investigation of 11 compounds of this series, using a panel of two human tumor cell lines namely; human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), and human colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116), revealed promising cytotoxic activities. Among all synthesized compounds, analogue 9 displayed maximum cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 16.19 ± 1.35 and 17.16 ± 1.54 µM against HCT-116 and MCF-7, respectively, compared to standard drug doxorubicin.