An efficient synthesis of novel functionalized 1,8-naphthyridine and chromeno[2,3-b]quinoline derivatives via cascade reaction of 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbaldehyde and enaminones or cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds was developed. All of the 1,8-naphthyridine derivatives synthesized were evaluated for their antiproliferative properties in vitro against cancer cells and several compounds were found to have high activities.
Keywords: 1,8-naphthyridine; antitumor activity; cascade reaction; chromeno[2,3-b]quinoline.