The reaction of safrole derivatives with aluminum chloride: improved procedures for the preparation of catechols or their mono-O-Methylated Derivatives and a mechanistic interpretation

Synthesis, characterization and biological activities of 2-((E)-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-6-ylimino)methyl)-6-ethoxyphenol and its metal complexes

Metal complexes of Zn(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Fe(III) have been synthesized from the Schiff base ligand derived by the condensation of 3,4-(methylenedioxy)aniline and 3-ethoxy salicylaldehyde. The compounds have been characterized by using elemental analysis, molar conductance, IR, UV-Visible, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, mass spectra and thermal analysis (TG/DTA). The elemental analysis suggests the stoichiometry to be 1:1 (metal:ligand). The IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and UV-Visible spectral data suggest that the ligand coordinate to the metal atom by imino nitrogen and phenolic oxygen as bidentate manner. The mass spectral data also strengthen the formation of the metal complexes. The thermal behaviors of the complexes prove the presence of lattice as well as coordinated water molecules in the complexes. The in vitro biological screening effects of the synthesized compounds are tested against five bacterial species and three fungal species by well diffusion method. Antioxidant activities have also been performed for all the compounds. Metal complexes show more pronounced biological activity than the free ligand.

New catechol derivatives of safrole and their antiproliferative activity towards breast cancer cells

Catechols were synthesized from safrole. Nine derivatives were prepared and assessed for antiproliferative effects using different human cell lines. The in vitro growth inhibition assay was based on the sulphorhodamine dye to quantify cell viability. The derivatives 4-allylbenzene-1,2-diol (3), 4 4-[3-(acetyloxy)propyl]-1,2-phenylene diacetate (6) and 4-[3-(acetyloxy)propyl]-5-nitro-1,2-phenylene diacetate (10) showed higher cytotoxicity than the parent compound 2 in tests performed on two breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). The IC₅₀ values of 40.2 ± 6.9 μM, 5.9 ± 0.8 μM and 33.8 ± 4.9 μM, respectively, were obtained without toxicity towards dermal human fibroblast (DHF cells).