In the present paper, we describe the biological activity of the newly designed and synthesized series N-substituted 3,4-pyrroledicarboximides 2a-2p. The compounds 2a-2p were obtained in good yields by one-pot, three-component condensation of pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole scaffold (1a-c) with secondary amines and an excess of formaldehyde solution in C2H5OH. The structural properties of the compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR FT-IR, MS, and elemental analysis. Moreover, single crystal X-ray diffraction has been recorded for compound 2h. The colorimetric inhibitor screening assay was used to obtain their potencies to inhibit COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. According to the results, all of the tested compounds inhibited the activity of COX-1 and COX-2. Theoretical modeling was also applied to describe the binding properties of compounds towards COX-1 and COX-2 cyclooxygenase isoform. The data were supported by QSAR study.
Keywords: COX-1/COX-2 inhibition; Mannich bases; analgesic activity; cyclic imides; docking study; inflammatory agents; pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole.