Synthesis and biological evaluation of heterocyclic privileged medicinal structures containing (benz)imidazole unit

Imidazole-pyridine hybrids as potent anti-cancer agents

In the current investigation, fifteen novel imidazole-pyridine-based molecules were synthesized and tested against cell lines of the lung (H1299) and colon (HCT116) adenocarcinomas by proliferation assay. The results demonstrated that compounds 5a, 5d, 5e, and 5f were the most active (IC₅₀<30 µM). Based on recent literature and the current results, the glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) protein was investigated in-silico as a possible target. The molecular docking and QSAR revealed an excellent binding affinity of the selected imidazole-pyridine compounds to GSK-3β. Notably, GSK-3β protein levels were significantly upregulated in hepatocellular liver carcinoma (LIHCs) tissues and negatively affected patient prognosis. Consequently, the compounds were evaluated on liver cancer cell lines (HepG2, HUH-7, and PLC/PRF/5) by the MTT assay, and 5d showed the highest antitumor activity. This study offers new compounds with interesting biological activity on GSK-3β as a target, exhibiting a potential therapeutic impact for hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

New chalcone-type compounds and 2-pyrazoline derivatives: synthesis and caspase-dependent anticancer activity

Aim: There is a continuous and urgent need for new anticancer agents with novel structures and target selectivity. Methods & results: The anticancer activity of the prepared compounds was assessed against human lung (A549) and stomach (AGS) cancer cell lines and evaluated in the noncancer human lung fibroblast (MRC-5) cell line. 2-Pyrazolines were devoid of toxicity in all cell lines used, chalcones bearing a β-(benz)imidazole moiety being toxic toward AGS cell line. Mechanistic studies showed that these compounds trigger loss of cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, while eliciting morphological traits compatible with regulated cell death, which was ultimately shown to derive from caspase activation, specifically caspase-3. Conclusion: Chalcones 1-3 have been identified as new and promising anticancer agents toward the AGS cell line.

Reactions of 2-carbonyl- and 2-hydroxy(or methoxy)alkyl-substituted benzimidazoles with arenes in the superacid CF3SO3H. NMR and DFT studies of dicationic electrophilic species

Reactions of 2-carbonyl- and 2-hydroxy(or methoxy)alkylbenzimidazoles with arenes in the Brønsted superacid TfOH resulted in the formation of the corresponding Friedel-Crafts reaction products, 2-diarylmethyl and 2-arylmethyl-substituted benzimidazoles, in yields up to 90%. The reaction intermediates, protonated species derived from starting benzimidazoles in TfOH, were thoroughly studied by means of NMR and DFT calculations and plausible reaction mechanisms are discussed.

Synthesis of 1,4-enyne-3-ones via palladium-catalyzed sequential decarboxylation and carbonylation of allyl alkynoates

A novel and efficient palladium-catalyzed sequential decarboxylation and carbonylation of allyl alkynoates for constructing functionalized 1,4-enyne-3-ones has been demonstrated.