The reactivity of compounds 2-(1-(2-chloroacetyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)acetonitrile 2 and 3-(1-(2-chloroacetyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-2H-chromen-2-one 8 towards different chemical reagents were studied and a series of novel benzimidazole derivatives were obtained (2-6a-d and 8-12a-d). Moreover, in vitro growth inhibitory effect of the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated in term of [IC50 µM] against the six cancer cell lines, human lung carcinoma (A549), lung cancer (H460), human colorectal (HT29), gasteric cancer cell (MKN-45), glioma cell line (U87MG) and cellosaurus cell line (SMMC-7721) where foretinib was used as standard reference. The results showed that compounds 2 (only for A549 cell line), 3a, 4, 6c, 6d, 8, 9a, 9e and 9f were the most active compounds towards the six cancer cell lines. On the other hand, the toxicity of these most potent compounds against shrimp larvae indicated that compounds 3a, 4, 6d, 9e and 9f were non toxic while compounds 6c and 8 were very toxic and compounds 2 and 9a were harmful against the tested organisms.
Keywords: benzimidazole; coumarin; cytotoxicity; thiazole; thiophene; toxicity.