One-Step Synthetic Access to Isosteric and Potent Anticancer Nitrogen Heterocycles with the Benzo[c]phenanthridine Scaffold

Abstract

A versatile one-step two-component cyclization to build new tetracyclic nitrogen heterocycles is described. Ortho-methylhetarenecarbonitrile components were condensed with aldehydes to access a large library of differently substituted ring systems. The heterocyclic core can be easily modified by variation of the position of the endocyclic nitrogen atom in the o-methylhetarenecarbonitrile substrate. The manner of the nucleophilic attack that leads to the condensation can be triggered by different electron-density distribution in the molecule induced by the position of the nitrogen atom. Taking this into account, there is an electronic preference that leads to either pyridophenanthrolines or the corresponding pyridoazacarbazoles as the main products. We demonstrate the high antitumor potential of some of our synthesized heterocycles, which is strongly dependent on the substitution pattern introduced through the aldehyde component. The position and number of endocyclic nitrogen atoms play an important role regarding cytotoxicity of the studied compounds.

Keywords: antitumor agents; fused-ring systems; medicinal chemistry; nitrogen heterocycles; synthetic methods.