Beyond the Antagonism: Self-Labeled Xanthone Inhibitors as Modeled "Two-in-One" Drugs in Cancer Therapy

Nitroenediamines (EDAMs), and N-methyl-1-(methylthio)-2-nitroethenamine (NMSM) derivatives: scaffolds for heterocycle molecular diversity (update from 2012 to 2021)

This review highlights recent heterocyclization of the nitroenediamine derivatives based on catalyst and catalyst-free approaches from 2012 onwards.

An Update on the Anticancer Activity of Xanthone Derivatives: A Review

The annual number of cancer deaths continues increasing every day; thus, it is urgent to search for and find active, selective, and efficient anticancer drugs as soon as possible. Among the available anticancer drugs, almost all of them contain heterocyclic moiety in their chemical structure. Xanthone is a heterocyclic compound with a dibenzo-γ-pyrone framework and well-known to have "privileged structures" for anticancer activities against several cancer cell lines. The wide anticancer activity of xanthones is produced by caspase activation, RNA binding, DNA cross-linking, as well as P-gp, kinase, aromatase, and topoisomerase inhibition. This anticancer activity depends on the type, number, and position of the attached functional groups in the xanthone skeleton. This review discusses the recent advances in the anticancer activity of xanthone derivatives, both from natural products isolation and synthesis methods, as the anticancer agent through in vitro, in vivo, and clinical assays.

An Environmentally Benign Cascade Reaction of 1,1-Enediamines (EDAMs) for Site-Selective Synthesis of Highly Functionalized 2,10-Dihydro-1H-imidazo[1',2':1,6]pyrido[2,3-b]indoles and Pyrroles

A novel protocol for the synthesis of pyrido[2,3-b]indoles (α-carbolines, 3) from (E)-3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene) indolin-2-one derivatives 1 and 1,1-enediamine (EDAM) 2a via an unexpected cascade reaction in ethanol was developed. Pyrido[2,3-b]indole derivatives 4 were obtained by the same reaction, albeit by stirring the mixture for a longer period of time (about 48 h). As a result, two kinds of functionalized α-carbolines 3 and 4 were synthesized by the facile reaction of the (E)-3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene)indolin-2-one derivatives and 2-(nitromethylene)imidazolidine under basic conditions (Cs₂CO₃) in ethanol. In addition, a diverse array of EDAM substrates (2b-2k) were tested in this reaction to afford the expected target compounds 5. This protocol is suitable for the combinatorial and parallel syntheses of natural-like products, including highly functionalized α-carbolines and pyrroles, especially 2-oxoindolin-3-yl pyrroles. This approach features several advantages, such as being a simple and practical operation (requiring only filtration and washing without column chromatography), furnishing excellent yields (72-98%), and producing diverse libraries of target compounds with potential biological activities.

Multicomponent Cascade Reaction by Metal-Free Aerobic Oxidation for Synthesis of Highly Functionalized 2-Amino-4-coumarinyl-5-arylpyrroles

A novel approach has been constructed for the synthesis of two types of 2-amino-4-coumarinyl-5-arylpyrroles (ACAPs, 5 and 6) through a cascade reaction and a metal-free catalyzed aerobic oxidation reaction of arylglyoxal monohydrates 1, 1,1-enediamines (EDAMs) 2 and 3, and 4-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-ones 4 via multicomponent reactions to produce the target compounds with good to excellent yields. Specifically, hydroxyl-substituted 2-amino-4-coumarinyl-5-arylpyrroles, that is, 2-amino-4-coumarinyl-5-aryl-6-hydroxylpyrroles (ACAHPs) 6, were obtained by metal-free aerobic oxidation in 1,4-dioxane at simple reflux for approximately 10 h. As a result, ACAHPs 6 have been produced without metal catalysts or traditional oxidizing agents. This method represents a route to obtain the novel ACAPs in an environmentally friendly, concise, rapid, and practical manner with potential biological activity of the product.

Cascade Reaction of 1,1-Enediamines with 2-Benzylidene-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-diones: Selective Synthesis of Indenodihydropyridine and Indenopyridine Compounds

A concise and environmentally friendly route for the synthesis of diverse indenodihydropyridines (3) via a cascade reaction of 1,1-eneamines (1) with benzylidene-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-diones (BIDs) (2) in ethanol media was developed. The targeted compounds were efficiently obtained by only filtration without any further post-treatment. In the one-step cascade reaction, C-C and C-N bonds were constructed. In addition, when 1,4-dioxane was used as a solvent and the mixture of 1,1-eneamines (1) was refluxed with benzylidene-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-diones (BIDs) (2) for about 12 h, indenopyridine compounds (4) were produced. Two kinds of indenopyridine derivatives 3-4 resulted from alternative solvents and temperatures. The reaction had the following features: mild temperature, atom economy, high yields, and potential biological activity of the product.

Site-Selective Reaction of Enaminones and Enamine Esters for the Synthesis of Novel Diverse Morphan Derivatives

An efficient and concise protocol was developed for the synthesis of diverse morphan derivatives 5-7 by the Michael and aza-Michael reaction of different types of quinone monoketals 1 or quinone imine ketals 2 with enaminones or enamine esters 3 promoted by 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene in acetone at reflux. Notably, when cyclic enaminone 4 was used as a substrate in the aza-Michael and 1,2-addition reactions with quinone monoketals 1, they gave another novel morphan 8. This method is suitable for parallel synthesis of bridged ring compounds. As a result, highly diverse morphan derivatives were easily and efficiently prepared by the Michael/aza-Michael or aza-Michael/1,2-addition reactions.

Facile Route to the Synthesis of 1,3-Diazahetero-Cycle-Fused [1,2-a]Quinoline Derivatives via Cascade Reactions

A one-step protocol without transition-metal catalysts with simple post-treatment for the synthesis of 1,3-diazaheterocycle-fused [1,2-a]quinoline derivatives via the cascade reaction of 2-fluorobenzaldehyde (1) and heterocyclic ketene aminals (2) was developed. In the one-step cascade reaction, C=C and C-N bonds were constructed, and the targeted compound can be efficiently obtained by filtering without column chromatography. This protocol describes a valuable route to concisely and feasibly obtain 1,3-diazaheterocycle-fused [1,2-a]quinoline derivatives. The synthetic methodology is particularly attractive because of the following features: low-cost solvent, mild temperature, atom economy, high yield, and potential biological activity of the product.

Synthesis and evaluation of the antitumor activity of highly functionalised pyridin-2-ones and pyrimidin-4-ones

The methods for selective synthesis of two novel types of compounds including pyridin-2-ones 3 and pyrimidin-4-ones 4 were developed. The antitumor bioactivity screening showed that certain compounds had potent antitumor activity.