Novel Pyridinium Based Ionic Liquid Promoter for Aqueous Knoevenagel Condensation: Green and Efficient Synthesis of New Derivatives with Their Anticancer Evaluation

Herein, a distinctive dihydroxy ionic liquid ([Py-2OH]OAc) was straightforwardly assembled from the sonication of pyridine with 2-chloropropane-1,3-diol by employing sodium acetate as an ion exchanger. The efficiency of the ([Py-2OH]OAc as a promoter for the sono-synthesis of a novel library of condensed products through DABCO-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation process of adequate active cyclic methylenes and ninhydrin was next investigated using ultimate greener conditions. All of the reactions studied went cleanly and smoothly, and the resulting Knoevenagel condensation compounds were recovered in high yields without detecting the aldol intermediates in the end products. Compared to traditional strategies, the suggested approach has numerous advantages including mild reaction conditions with no by-products, eco-friendly solvent, outstanding performance in many green metrics, and usability in gram-scale synthesis. The reusability of the ionic liquid was also studied, with an overall retrieved yield of around 97% for seven consecutive runs without any substantial reduction in the performance. The novel obtained compounds were further assessed for their in vitro antitumor potential toward three human tumor cell lines: Colo-205 (colon cancer), MCF-7 (breast cancer), and A549 (lung cancer) by employing the MTT assay, and the findings were evaluated with the reference Doxorubicin. The results demonstrated that the majority of the developed products had potent activities at very low doses. Compounds comprising rhodanine (5) or chromane (12) moieties exhibited the most promising cytotoxic effects toward three cell lines, particularly rhodanine carboxylic acid derivative (5c), showing superior cytotoxic effects against the investigated cell lines compared to the reference drug. Furthermore, automated docking simulation studies were also performed to support the results obtained.

DABCO-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of aldehydes with ethyl cyanoacetate using hydroxy ionic liquid as a promoter

N-(2-Hydroxy-ethyl)-pyridinium chloride ([HyEtPy]Cl) was synthesized and explored as a novel promoter for 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2] octane (DABCO)-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation reactions, which showed better catalytic activity compared to other ionic liquid (IL) that had no hydroxyl group attached to the IL scaffold. The effect of hydrogen bond formation between the hydroxyl group of [HyEtPy]Cl and the carbonyl group of aldehyde played an important role in the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. In the [HyEtPy]Cl–H₂O–DABCO composite system, Knoevenagel condensation reactions proceeded smoothly and cleanly, and the corresponding Knoevenagel condensation products were obtained in good to excellent yields in all cases examined. This protocol provides a versatile solvent–catalyst system, which has notable advantages such as being eco-friendly, ease of work-up and convenient reuse of the ionic liquid.

N-(2-Hydroxy-ethyl)-pyridinium chloride ([HyEtPy]Cl) was synthesized and explored as a novel promoter for 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2] octane (DABCO)-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation reactions, excellent catalytic activity was obtained.

Amino acid ionic liquids as catalysts in a solvent-free Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction

In the present work, we describe the preparation of ten amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) formed from ammonium salts as cations, derivatives of glycerol, and natural amino acids as anions. All of them are viscous oils, colorless or pale yellow, and hygroscopic at room temperature. They have appreciable solubility in many protic and aprotic polar solvents. The AAILs were used as catalysts in a Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) reaction. The ionic liquids derivative from l-proline and l-histidine demonstrated the ability to catalyze the reaction between methyl vinyl ketone and aromatic aldehydes differently substituted in the absence of an additional co-catalyst under organic solvent-free conditions. The AAIL derivatives from l-valine, l-leucine, and l-tyrosine catalyzed the MBH reaction only in the presence of imidazole. The MBH adducts were obtained in moderate to good yields. Although the catalytic site in the ILs was in its enantiomerically pure form, all the MBH adducts were obtained in their racemic form.

In this work, we describe the preparation of ten amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs). The AAILs were used as catalysts in a Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) reaction. The MBH adducts were obtained from moderate to good yields and in their racemic form.

Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction in eutectic solvent under aqueous medium

Aqueous solvent-catalyst system formed by DES (1ChCl/2Gly) and DABCO is more useful and practical to the Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction.