Efficient synthesis of chromone and flavonoid derivatives with diverse heterocyclic units.

Chromones and flavonoids are important bioactive compounds. We envisioned that new heterocyclic-substituted chromones or flavonoids might act as new bioactive compounds. To obtain diverse molecules, we developed an efficient one-pot synthesis by Michael aldol reaction of chromone and flavonoid derivatives bearing heterocyclic units. The 2,3-heterocyclic-substituted chromones were obtained in one step. Moreover, the use of substituted benzaldehydes and subsequent addition of heterocyclic aldehydes gave 3-pyridyl-substituted flavones. We also examined these one-pot reactions in the solid phase. To introduce an additional point of diversity into the molecules, Suzuki-Miyaura coupling was performed. Furthermore, we identified the cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds against cancer cells (PANC1 and HeLa cells). Several compounds were cytotoxic to these cancer cells.