Synthesis of Novel Quin[1,2-b]Acridines: In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Molecular Docking Studies

Abstract

An attempted synthesis of 5-aryl-6,7-dihydrodibenzo[b,j][1,10]phenanthroline derivatives from 2,3-dihydroacridin-4(1H)-ones with 2-aminocarboxylic acid derivatives in presence of phosphorus oxychloride at 130˚C yielded a novel class of quin[1,2-b]acridine derivatives. The newly synthesized compounds showed a better cytotoxic activity against HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines during the structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies. To discover with the interactions of these molecules, we carried out molecular docking studies using the human protein kinase CK2 inhibitors. The molecular interaction results provided a number of elegant information for the outlook design of more potent inhibitors.

Keywords:

• Cytotoxic activity
• 2,3-Dihydroacridin-4(1H)-ones
• Molecular docking studies
• Quin[1,2-b]acridines

Acknowledgments

Our sincere thanks go to the VIT-SIF NMR Lab, School of Advanced Studies, Chemistry division, VIT University, Vellore for providing access to their NMR spectral facilities. Rajendran Satheeshkumar is grateful to the University Grant Commission (UGC-SAP), New Delhi, for BSR—Senior Research Fellowship, which is thankfully acknowledged. Dr Karnam Jayarampillai Rajendra Prasad greatly acknowledged UGC-Emeritus fellowship (No. F.6-6/2015-17/EMERITUS-2015-17-OBC-7410/(SAII), Dated: 21.09.2015) for research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.