An Overview of the Synthesis of 3,4-Fused Pyrrolocoumarins of Biological Interest

3,4-Fused pyrrolocoumarins, synthetically prepared or naturally occurring, possess interesting biological properties. In this review, the synthetic strategies for the synthesis of the title compounds are presented along with their biological activities. Two routes are followed for that synthesis. In one, the pyrrole ring is formed from coumarin derivatives, such as aminocoumarins or other coumarins. In the other approach, the pyranone moiety is built from an existing pyrrole derivative or through the simultaneous formation of coumarin and pyrrole frameworks. The above syntheses are achieved via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions, Michael reaction, aza-Claisen rearrangement reactions, multi-component reactions (MCR), as well as metal-catalyzed reactions. Pyrrolocoumarins present cytotoxic, antifungal, antibacterial, α-glucosidase inhibition, antioxidant, lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition, and fluorescent activities, as well as benzodiazepine receptor ability.

Multicomponent Reactions Using C,N-Binucleophilic Nature of Aminopyrazoles: Construction of Pyrazole-Fused Heterocycles

Synthesis of pyrazole-fused heterocycles has gained considerable attention in recent years due to their wide applications in medicinal chemistry. Aminopyrazoles are versatile building blocks for the synthesis of pyrazole-fused heterocycles by multicomponent reactions. Due to the presence of multiple reaction sites, they have fascinating chemical reactivity. Thus, they have been extensively used in multicomponent reactions for the construction of pyrazole-fused heterocycles. Although few review articles on the preparation and applications of aminopyrazoles are known in the literature, to date there is no dedicated review article on the construction of pyrazole-fused heterocycles exploring the reactivity of amino pyrazoles as C,N-binucleophiles in multicomponent reactions. Considering this, herein the multicomponent reactions for the construction of pyrazole-fused heterocycles exploring C,N-binucleophilic nature of amino pyrazoles have been reported.

Effective Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Functionalized 2,3-Dihydrofuro[3,2-c]coumarins via an Imidazole-Catalyzed Green Multicomponent Approach

For the first time, an eco-friendly and efficient one-pot green multicomponent approach has been described to synthesize functionalized trans-2,3-dihydrofuro[3,2-c]coumarins (DHFCs). In this synthesis, imidazole and water were used as the catalyst and solvent, respectively, under mild conditions. Applications of the developed catalytic process in a water medium revealed the outstanding activity, productivity, and broad functional group tolerance, affording a series of newly designed DHFC and derivatives in excellent yields (72-98%). Moreover, the human serum albumin (HSA) binding ability of the synthesized DHFC derivatives has been uncovered through the detailed in silico and in vitro-based structure-activity analysis. The ability to bind HSA, the most abundant serum protein, in the low micromolar ranges unequivocally reflects the suitable absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination profile of the synthesized compounds, which may further be envisaged for their therapeutic usage endeavors.

Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors as potential anticancer agents: An update of recent progress

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a vital intermediate in cell signaling pathway including cell proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and metastatic spread and also having four divergent members with similar structural features, such as EGFR (HER1/ErbB1), ErbB2 (HER2/neu), ErbB3 (HER3), and ErbB4 (HER4). Despite this, clinically exploited inhibitors of EGFR (including erlotinib, lapatinib, gefitinib, selumetinib, etc.) are not specific thus provoking unenviable adverse effects. Some of the paramount obstacles to generate and develop new lead molecules of EGFR inhibitors are drug resistance, mutation, and also selectivity which inspire medicinal chemists to generate novel chemotypes. The discovery of therapeutic agents that inhibit the precise stage in tumorous cells such as EGFR is one of the chief successful targets in many cancer therapies, including lung and breast cancers. This review aims to compile the various recent progressions (2016-2021) in the discovery and development of diverse epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors belonging to distinct structural classes like pyrazoline, pyrazole, imidazole, pyrimidine, coumarin, benzothiazole, etc. We have summarized preclinical and clinical data, structure-activity relationships (SAR) containing mechanistic and in silico studies to provide proposals for the design and invention of new EGFR inhibitors with therapeutic significance. The detailed progress of the work in the field will provide inexorable scope for the development of novel drug candidates with greater selectivity and efficacy.

Cytotoxic Activity against A549 Human Lung Cancer Cells and ADMET Analysis of New Pyrazole Derivatives

Two new pyrazole derivatives, namely compound 1 and compound 2, have been synthesized, and their biological activity has been evaluated. Monocrystals of the obtained compounds were thoroughly investigated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, and NMR spectroscopy. The results gathered from all three techniques are in good agreement, provide complete information about the structures of 1 and 2, and confirm their high purity. Thermal properties were studied using thermogravimetric analysis; both 1 and 2 are stable at room temperature. In order to better characterize 1 and 2, some physicochemical and biological properties have been evaluated using ADMET analysis. The cytotoxic activity of both compounds was determined using the MTT assay on the A549 cell line in comparison with etoposide. It was determined that compound 2 was effective in the inhibition of human lung adenocarcinoma cell growth and may be a promising compound for the treatment of lung cancer.

Synthetic Routes to Coumarin(Benzopyrone)-Fused Five-Membered Aromatic Heterocycles Built on the α-Pyrone Moiety. Part II: Five-Membered Aromatic Rings with Multi Heteroatoms

Coumarins are natural heterocycles that widely contribute to the design of various biologically active compounds. Fusing different aromatic heterocycles with coumarin at its 3,4-position is one of the interesting approaches to generating novel molecules with various biological activities. During our continuing interest in assembling information about fused five-membered aromatic heterocycles, and after having presented mono-hetero-atomic five-membered aromatic heterocycles in Part I. The current review Part II is intended to present an overview of the different synthetic routes to coumarin (benzopyrone)-fused five-membered aromatic heterocycles with multi-heteroatoms built on the pyrone ring, covering the literature from 1945 to 2021.

Synthetic Routes to Coumarin(Benzopyrone)-Fused Five-Membered Aromatic Heterocycles Built on the α-Pyrone Moiety. Part 1: Five-Membered Aromatic Rings with One Heteroatom

This review gives an up-to-date overview of the different ways (routes) to the synthesis of coumarin (benzopyrone)-fused, five-membered aromatic heterocycles with one heteroatom, built on the pyrone moiety. Covering 1966 to 2020.

Direct synthesis of 4-hydroxycoumarins and 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone containing chroman-4-ones via a silver catalyzed radical cascade cyclization reaction

A novel AgNO3/K2S2O8 catalyzed radical cascade cyclization reaction of 2-(allyloxy)arylaldehydes with 4-hydroxycoumarins and 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone produces two new series of chroman-2-ones.

4-Chloro-3-formylcoumarin as a multifaceted building block for the development of various bio-active substituted and fused coumarin heterocycles: a brief review

This review presents the diverse synthesis of 3,4-substituted coumarins and 5-, 6- and 7-membered ring fused coumarins using 4-chloro-3-formylcoumarin as the precursor via classical reactions including metal-catalyzed and green reaction protocols.

A review: Biologically active 3,4-heterocycle-fused coumarins

The combination of heterocycles offers a new opportunity to create novel multicyclic compounds having improved biological activity. Coumarins are ubiquitous natural heterocycle widely adopted in the design of various biologically active compounds. Fusing different heterocycles with coumarin ring is one of the interesting approaches to generating novel hybrid molecules having highlighted biological activities. In the efforts to develop heterocyclic-fused coumarins, a wide range of 3,4-heterocycle-fused coumarins have been introduced bearing outstanding biological activity. The effect of heterocycles annulation at 3,4-positions of coumarin ring on the biological activity of the target structures were discussed. This review focuses on the important progress of 3,4-heterocycle-fused coumarins providing better insight for medicinal chemists on the design and preparation of biologically active heterocycle-fused coumarins with a significant therapeutic effect in the future.

Thienochromene derivatives inhibit pSTAT1 and pSTAT5 signaling induced by cytokines

Furanocoumarins, particularly furo[3,2-c]coumarins, are found in many natural products. However, coumarins annulated to a thiophene ring have received scarce attention to date in the literature. Therefore, we synthesized 4-oxo-4H-thieno[3,2-c]chromene derivatives and tested in vitro their anti-inflammatory activity. Anti-inflammatory potential of the synthesized compounds (1, 2, 6-8, 9a-e and 10a-c) has been evaluated by measuring various pSTAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) inhibition within the JAK (Janus-activated family kinase)/STAT signaling pathway. Ethyl 7-hydroxy-4-oxo-4H-thieno[3,2-c]chromene-2-carboxylate (7) showed best inhibition properties on pSTAT5 in GM-CSF (Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor)-triggered PBMC assay, with IC₅₀ value of 5.0 µM.

Multistep Synthesis and In Vitro Anticancer Evaluation of 2-Pyrazolyl-Estradiol Derivatives, Pyrazolocoumarin-Estradiol Hybrids and Analogous Compounds

Although the hormone independent cytotoxic activity of several estradiol derivatives endowed with a simple substituent at C-2 has been reported so far, 2-heterocyclic and 2,3-condensed analogs are less investigated from both synthetic and pharmacological points of view. Therefore, novel A-ring-connected 2-pyrazoles of estradiol and, for comparison, their structurally simplified non-steroidal pairs were synthesized from estradiol 3-methyl ether and 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene. Friedel-Crafts acetylation of the protected phenolic compounds and subsequent O-demethylation led to ortho-substituted derivatives regioselectively, which were converted to arylhydrazones with phenylhydrazine, 4-tolylhydrazine and 4-chloro-phenylhydrazine, respectively, under microwave conditions. The hydrazones were subjected to cyclization with the Vilsmeier-Haack reagent immediately after preparation and the ring closure/formylation sequence resulted in steroidal and non-steroidal 4'-formylpyrazoles in moderate to good yields. During reductive transformations, 4-hydroxymethyl-pyrazoles were obtained, while oxidative lactonization of the 4-formylpyrazole moiety with the phenolic OH in the presence of the Jones reagent afforded A-ring-integrated pyrazolocoumarin hybrids and related analogs. Steroidal pyrazoles, which were produced as C-17 acetates due to acetylation of C-17 OH during the primary Friedel-Crafts reaction, underwent deacetylation in alkaline methanol to furnish 2-heterocyclic estradiol derivatives. Pharmacological studies revealed the overall and cancer cell-specific cytotoxicity of the derivatives and the half maximal inhibitory concentrations were obtained for the most promising compounds.

tert-Butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) mediated oxidative cross-dehydrogenative coupling of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with 4-hydroxycoumarins, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone under metal-free conditions

We report an efficient and atom-economical method of C-3 functionalization of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with 4-hydroxycoumarins, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone, and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone via the free radical cross-coupling pathway under metal-free conditions. tert-Butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) smoothly promotes the reaction furnishing the cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) products in very good to excellent yields. The protocol neither uses any toxic reagents nor metal catalysts to carry out the reaction, and all the products have been obtained without column chromatography purification. Different radical trapping experiments with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl, butylated hydroxytoluene, and diphenyl ethylene confirm the involvement of radicals.

Novel 6a,12b-Dihydro-6H,7H-chromeno[3,4-c] chromen-6-ones: Synthesis, Structure and Antifungal Activity

A new series of coumarin derivatives, 7-hydroxy-7-(trifluoromethyl)-6a,12b-dihydro-6H,7H-chromeno[3,4-c]chromen-6-ones 3a–p, were synthesized via Michael addition, transesterification and nucleophilic addition from the reaction of 3-trifluoroacetyl coumarins and phenols in the presence of an organic base. The products were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR), carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹³C-NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS). Single crystal X-ray analysis of compounds 3a and 3n clearly confirmed their assigned chemical structures and their twisted conformations. Compound 3a crystallized in the orthorhombic system, Pbca, in which a = 8.6244(2) Å, b = 17.4245(4) Å, c = 22.5188(6) Å, α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 90°, v = 3384.02(14) ų, and z = 8. In addition, the mycelial growth rate method was used to examine the in vitro antifungal activities of the title compounds 3a–p against Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium monitiforme at 500 µg/mL. The results showed that compound 3l exhibited significant anti-Fusarium monitiforme activity with inhibitory index of 84.6%.

Synthesis, characterization, anti-diabetic potential and DFT studies of 7-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromene-8-carbaldehyde oxime

A new compound named 7-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromene-8-carbaldehyde oxime (7-Oxime) was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, FT-Raman, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR techniques. The conformer possibilities were studied to find the most stable conformer and its molecular geometry. Then, the dimer form of the most stable monomer was built and optimized. Density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP method with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set was applied to analyze the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), HOMO and LUMO orbitals, the vibrational wavenumbers, the infrared intensities, the Raman scattering activities and several thermodynamic properties (at different temperatures). The stability of the molecule derived from hyperconjugative interactions and charge delocalization has been analyzed by using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. In order to find the possible inhibitory activity of 7-Oxime, an accurate molecular blind docking simulation was performed. The results indicated that the mentioned compound has a good binding affinity to interact with the active sites of human α-glucosidase and α-amylase. For the first time, our computational finding suggests that this compound has a potential to be used as a supplementary agent in the pre-management of diabetes mellitus.

Modulation of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa biofilm: an in vitro study with new coumarin derivatives

Coumarin is an important heterocyclic molecular framework of bioactive molecules against broad spectrum pathological manifestations. In the present study 18 new coumarin derivatives (CDs) were synthesized and characterized for antibiofilm activity against two model bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was observed that all the CDs executed significant effect in moderating activities against both planktonic and biofilm forms of these selected bacteria. Hence, to interpret the underlying probable reason of such antibiofilm effect, in-silico binding study of CDs with biofilm and motility associated proteins of these organisms were performed. All CDs have shown their propensity for occupying the native substrate binding pocket of each protein with moderate to strong binding affinities. One of the CDs such as CAMN1 showed highest binding affinity with these proteins. Interestingly, the findings of in-silico studies coincides the experimental results of antibiofilm and motility affect of CDs against both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Moreover, in-silico studies suggested that the antibiofilm activity of test CDs may be due to the interference of biofilm and motility associated proteins of the selected model organisms (PilT from P. aeruginosa and TarK, TarO from S. aureus). The detailed synthesis, characterization, methodology and results of biological screening along with computational studies have been reported. This study could be of greater interest in the context of the development of new anti-bacterial agent in the future.

Synthesis of coumarin-theophylline hybrids as a new class of anti-tubercular and anti-microbial agents

A series of novel coumarin-theophylline hybrids were synthesized and examined for their anti-tubercular activity in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv, anti-microbial activity in vitro against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacterias (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi) as well as fungi (Candida albicans). The compound (3a) has shown excellent anti-tubercular activity with MIC of 0.12 μg/mL. Electron donating compounds (3a, 3f) have displayed significant anti-microbial activity. The compounds have also been precisely elucidated using single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Molecular docking study has been performed against 4DQU enzyme of Mycobacterium tuberculosis showed good binding interactions and is in agreement with the in vitro results.

One-pot transition-metal-free cascade synthesis of thieno[2,3-c]coumarins from chromones

A one-pot transition-metal-free, base-mediated synthesis of a novel series of functionalized thieno[2,3-c]coumarins has been developed through a cascade reaction from chromones.

The biological activity of new thieno[2,3-c]pyrazole compounds as anti-oxidants against toxicity of 4-nonylphenol in Clarias gariepinus

Synthesis of bi functionally substituted thieno[2,3-c]pyrazole compounds was carried out by a new method. The substituted group at position five is namely (carbonitrile, carboxamide, N-(substitutedphenyl) carboxamide and benzoyl group). Chloroacetylation of the amino thieno[2,3-c]pyrazolecarboxamide compound afforded the chloroacetyl amino derivative. The chemical structure of the newly synthesized compounds was established by elemental and spectral analysis including IR, 1H NMR spectra in addition to 13C NMR and mass spectra for most of them. In the present work, we assessed the role of the new synthesized thieno[2,3-c]pyrazole compounds as antioxidants against the toxicity of the 4-nonylphenol on the red blood cells of the most economically important Nile fishes namely African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). The erythrocytes alterations were used as biological indicators to detect those effects. After exposure to 4-nonylphenol, the erythrocytes malformations (swelled cells, sickle cells, tear drop like cells, acanthocytes, and vacuolated cells) were recorded in highest number in comparison with other groups control and those injected with thieno[2,3-c]pyrazole compounds. So, the new thieno[2,3-c]pyrazole compounds can be used as antioxidants against toxicity of 4-nonylphenol on fishes.