Straightforward synthesis and biological evaluation as topoisomerase I inhibitors and antiproliferative agents of hybrid Chromeno[4,3-b][1,5] Naphthyridines and Chromeno[4,3-b][1,5]Naphthyridin-6-ones

Abstract

This work describes the synthesis of hybrid tetrahydro-1,5-naphthyridine and 1,5-naphthyridine derivatives fused with heterocycles such as chromenes and chromen-2-ones or coumarins, which were synthesized in good to high general yields. The synthetic route involves an intramolecular [4 þ 2]-cycloaddition reaction of functionalized aldimines obtained by the condensation of 3-aminopyridine and aldehydes containing a double or triple carbon-carbon bond in orto position and allows the selective generation of three stereogenic centers in a short, efficient and reliable synthesis. The subsequent dehydrogenation of the fused tetrahydrochromeno[4,3-b][1,5]naphthyridines and/or tetrahydrochromeno[ 4,3-b][1,5]naphthyridin-6-ones leads to the formation of the corresponding tetracyclic chromeno[4,3-b][1,5]naphthyridine derivatives and/or chromeno[4,3-b][1,5]naphthyridin-6-ones in quantitative yields. Some of the prepared products showed activity as inhibitors of Topoisomerase I (TopI). Additionally, the cytotoxic behavior of these compounds has been studied in cell lines derived. from human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and human ovarian carcinoma (SKOV03), and on noncancerous lung fibroblasts cell line (MRC5) where, on the last ones, the absence of cytotoxicity was observed. 7-Phenyl-6H-6a,7,12,12a-tetrahydrochromeno[4,3-b][1,5]naphthyridine 5a showed excellent cytotoxic activity with a IC50 value of 1.03 ± 0.30 mM against the A549 cell line and a IC50 value of 1.75 ± 0.20 mM against the SKOV03 cell line. The obtained results point to these compounds as good antiproliferative candidates.