Synthesis of 2-phenylazonaphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepines and 9-(3-arylhydrazono)pyrrolo[1,2-a]perimidines as antitumor agents.

Two series of naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepines and pyrrolo[1,2-a]perimidines were prepared starting from 1,8-diaminonaphthalene and hydrazonoyl chlorides. The structures of the products were determined on the basis of their spectral data and elemental analyses. The mechanism of formation of such products was also discussed. The prepared compounds were screened for their antitumor activity against three cell lines, namely, MCF-7, TK-10 and UACC-62, and some derivatives showed promising activity.

1. Introduction

Naphthalene is important aryl ring found in many biologically active compounds such as anti-inflammatory [1], anti-bacterial [2], anti-microbial [3] and anti-cancer agents [4]. 1,8-Diaminonaphthalene was used in synthesis of a limited number of naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine derivatives [5,6,7,8] and many perimidine derivatives [9,10,11,12]. Perimidines are an important class of heterocyclic systems due to their biological and pharmaceutical activities [9,10]. They have been used as anti-ulcer, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal agents [11,12]. Perimidines have also been described as DNA-intercalating and anti-tumor agents against several carcinogenic cell lines [13,14,15,16]. Very recently, we reported some perimidine anti-tumor agents that showed good activity against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and HEPG-2 liver cancer cell line [17]. In addition, perimidines constitute the core of several dyes [18], and are used in the synthesis of photovoltaic devices [19] and as a source of carbene ligands [20]. Furthermore, pyrrolo[1,2-a] perimidines are an interesting class of fused heterocycles that have wide range of industrial applications as dyes and pigments for plastics [21,22,23,24]. From the above findings and in continuation of our research work on the use of hydrazonoyl halides in the synthesis of biologically active heterocycles [25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32], we report here the so far unreported reaction between 1,8-diaminonaphthalene and hydrazonoyl chlorides as a key step for synthesis of the naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine derivatives. We also synthesized a new perimidine derivative to study its regioselective reaction towards a number of hydrazonoyl chlorides. The effects of the newly synthesized compounds on the growth of three human cancer cell lines: MCF-7, TK-10, UACC-62, are also examined.

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. Chemistry

Treatment of 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (1) with the acetylhydrazonoyl chloride 2a in dioxane in the presence of triethylamine at reflux temperature furnished a single product to which the structure 2-(4-methoxyphenylhydrazono)-3-methyl-1H-naphtho[1,8-ef] [1,4] diazepine (3a) was assigned based on the elemental analyses and spectral data of the isolated product. The IR spectrum of the reaction product showed two NH absorption bands at 3,394 and 3,286 cm−1. Moreover, the mass spectrum of the isolated product revealed a molecular ion peak at m/z 330. 1H-NMR displayed two singlet peaks resonating at 2.25 and 3.58 due to the CH3 and OCH3 protons, respectively, in addition to two broad D2O-exchangeable signals resonating at 9.98 and 10.10 due to two NH protons, in addition to an aromatic multiplet in the 6.65–7.92 ppm region.

Analogous reactions of the acetyl hydrazonoyl chlorides 2b–j with 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (1) furnished the corresponding 2-(arylhydrazono)-3-methyl-1H-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4] diazepine derivatives 3b–j in high yields, as outlined in Scheme 1. The structures of the isolated products were assigned on the basis of their elemental analyses and spectral data (see Experimental section). Compounds 3 have three tautomeric forms 3A–C (Scheme 1). The electronic absorption spectra of 3 in dioxane revealed, in each case, one characteristic absorption band in the region 381–345 nm (Table 1) and the electronic absorption spectra of compound 3d, taken in different solvents as a typical example of the series prepared, exhibited little, if any, solvent dependence (Table 1). These data indicate that compound 3 is found mainly in the hydrazone-form 3A [33,34].

Scheme 1

Reaction of 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (1) with hydrazonoyl chlorides 2 and 4.

Table 1

UV Spectral data of compounds 3a–j, 5a,b and 11a–h in dioxane.

Compd. No.	λmax (log ε)	Compd. No.	λmax (log ε)
3a	359 (4.25)	5a	378 (4.45)
3b	349 (3.89)	5b	385 (4.33)
3c	347 (3.59)	11a	484 (4.24), 346 (4.19), 269 (4.24)
3d *	348 (4.30)	11b	476 (4.01), 340 (4.10), 233 (4.28)
3e	349 (3.87)	11c **	473 (4.15), 351 (4.32), 231 (4.38)
3f	349 (3.88)	11d	472 (4.24), 339 (4.15), 232 (4.35)
3g	345 (3.89)	11e	472 (4.0), 337 (3.89), 267 (4.01)
3h	381 (3.76)	11f	490 (4.66), 357 (4.57), 231 (4.89)
3i	359 (4.19)	1g	509 (4.05), 361 (4.11), 262 (4.13)
3j	351 (4.05)	11h	478 (4.10), 336 (3.79), 296 (3.80)

* Solvent λmax (log ε): acetone: 349 (4.01); chloroform: 348 (4.02); cyclohexane: 347 (4.11); ethanol 348 (4.04); DMF 349 (4.24); ** Solvent λmax (log ε): acetone: 473 (4.20), 350 (4.35), 231 (4.41); chloroform: 473 (3.99), 353 (4.15), 233 (4.28); cyclohexane: 473 (4.25), 350 (4.10), 230 (4.08); ethanol 472 (4.24), 352 (4.23), 236 (4.47); DMF 476 (4.36), 346 (4.29), 231 (4.38).

Similar reaction of 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (1) with the ester hydrazonoyl chlorides 4a,b, under the typical experimental reaction conditions mentioned above, led to the formation of the corresponding 2-(arylhydrazono)-1,4-dihydro-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine-3-ones 5a,b. The structure elucidation of the reaction products 5a,b was based on their elemental analyses and spectral data (IR, MS and 1H-NMR). The IR spectra of the reaction products exhibited three NH absorptions in the 3,325–3,120 cm−1 region in addition to an amide -C=O absorption band around 1,660 cm−1, as well as three singlet D2O-exchangeable-NH proton signals resonating in the 9.95–10.91 region in their 1H-NMR spectra. Moreover, their mass spectra revealed in each case a peak due to the molecular ion (M+). The electronic absorption spectra data of 5 in dioxane revealed, in each case, one characteristic absorption band in the 378 and 385 nm region corresponding to the hydrazone chromophore 5A [33,34] (Table 1).

From the literature [35,36], we found that reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin with 1,2-phenylenediamine furnished 1,5-benzodiazepin-2-ones. This finding attracted our intention to study the reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin with 1,8-diaminonaphthalene. Thus, heating a 1:1 molar mixture of 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (1) with 4-hydroxycoumarin (6) in refluxing ethanol furnished a single product for which two possible structures; the naphtho[1,8-bc][1,5]diazocin-2-one structure 7 or the 1,2-dihydroperimidine 8 derivatives can be postulated (Scheme 2). Based on its spectral data (MS, IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR) the 2-(2-hydroxybenzoylmethylene)-1,2-dihydroperimidine structure 8 was assigned to the reaction product. For example, its 13C-NMR revealed a characteristic signal at δ 186.22 due to a ketonic carbonyl-carbon rather than an amidic carbonyl-carbon where the latter one resonates in the region δ 160–166 [25] and the signal for methene carbon at 77.15 [37]. Also, the carbon signals of the perimidine moiety were clearly observed in the 13C-NMR spectrum of compound 8 [37]. Further evidence for the assigned structure 8 is provided by its mass spectrum, which revealed ion peaks at m/z 168 and 121, corresponding to the perimidine and HO-C6H4-CO fragments, respectively. This assignment is in good agreement with literature data indicating the stability of perimidines to be greater than that of diazocines [37,38,39].

Scheme 2

Reaction of 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (1) with 4-hydroxycoumarin (6).

To account for the formation of the product 8, it is suggested, as depicted in Scheme 2, that the reaction of 1 with 6 starts with two nucleophilic addition reactions to give the intermediates 9 and 10 which underwent in situ cyclization via elimination of water molecules to give 8 as the end product. Compound 8 has two possible tautomeric forms, 8A and 8B, however the presence of a singlet signal resonating at 5.62 integrated for 1 H due to (-C=CH-) and the absence of any aliphatic protons in the 2–4 region of the 1H-NMR confirmed the tautomer 8A as the main product (Scheme 2).

The reactivity of the multifunctional -enaminoketone 8A towards the hydrazonoyl chlorides 4 was also investigated. Both the -enaminoketone 8A and hydrazonoyl chlorides 4 have reaction different sites that may attack each other, thus, when compound 8A was treated with the ester hydrazonoyl chlorides 4a–h in refluxing dioxane in the presence of triethylamine, it afforded, in each case, only one isolable product whose elemental analyses and mass spectral data were consistent with compounds 11, 12 or 13 (Scheme 3), where all products have identical molecular ion peaks due to elimination of HCl and ethanol molecules.

Scheme 3

Reaction of compound 8 with hydrazonoyl chlorides 4a–h.

The IR spectra of the products in the solid state showed carbonyl group bands in the 1693–1687 cm−1 (cyclic amide C=O group) and 1647–1639 cm−1 (benzoyl C=O group) regions, which are consistent with the structure of compound 11 rather than its isomeric structures 12 or 13 (Scheme 3). The mechanism outlined in Scheme 4 accounts for the formation of compound 11. Due to the conjugation effect of the electron-donating amino group of compound 4 and the electron-withdrawing substituent (2-hydroxybenzoyl group), the double bond is highly polarized and the electron density on the α-carbon is greater than that of the nitrogen atom so the reaction is assumed to proceed through carbon-carbon cross-coupling via initial attack of the activated -enamine’s carbon (nucleophile) of 8A on the electrophilic carbon of nitrilimine 4A, followed by elimination of ethanol to give the desired product 11 as depicted in Scheme 4. As products 11 can have five possible tautomeric structures 11A–E, their electronic absorption spectra were studied in dioxane and showed in each case three absorption bands in the 509–472, 361–336 and 296–231 nm regions (Figure 1). This absorption pattern is similar to that reported for analogous azo chromophore [40]. Such data indicate that the actual tautomeric structure of such compounds in solution phase is the arylazohydroxy form 11B, whereas their IR spectral data indicate that they exist in the solid state as the diketo-hydrazone tautomeric form 11A (Figure 1).

Scheme 4

The mechanism of formation of compounds 11.

Figure 1

Tautomeric structures of compounds 11.

2.2. Results of Biological Activity

2.2.1. Effect on the Growth of Human Cancer Cell Lines

The effects of the 16 newly synthesized compounds 3c–f, 3h–j, 8, 11a–h on the growth of three human cancer cell lines, TK-10, MCF-7 and UACC-62, given in concentrations that were able to cause 50% of cell growth inhibition, are summarized in Table 2. Regarding the activities of the naphtha[1,8-ef]diazepine derivatives 3, no capacity to inhibit the growth of the human cancer cell lines was observed with 3e and 3h, while compound 3i inhibited the GI50 on all the cell lines (TK-10 = 96.73 µM/mL, MCF-7 = 81.29 µM/mL and UACC-62 = 41.97 µM/mL). Compounds 3c and 3j showed an inhibitory effect against the growth of the TK-10 and MCF-7 cells, but did not possess any activity on the UACC-62 cell line. Compounds 3d and 3f showed an inhibitory effect against one cell line only (MCF-7 and TK-10 cells, respectively). On the other hand, regarding the activities of the pyrrolo[1,2- α]perimidine derivatives 11a–h, compound 11c showed growth inhibitory effects that were stronger to TK-10 and MCF-7 cell lines and its inhibitory parameters (GI50, TGI and LC50) demonstrated total growth inhibition (TGI = 25.28, 21.87 µM/mL, respectively) compared to those presented by the rest of the group which affected only on one or two of the experimented cell lines. Compound 8 showed an inhibitory effect against the growth of the TK-10 and MCF-7 cells, while the other derivatives 11a,b,e–h showed no activities.

Table 2

Concentration (µM/mL) required to inhibit cell growth by 50% (GI50), to produce total growth inhibition (TGI) and to cause 50% net cell killing (LC50).

Product	Inhibition parameters	TK-10	MCF-7	UACC-62
3c	GI50	62.44 ± 3.58	80.66 ± 5.24	>100
	TGI	>100	>100	>100
	LC50	>100	>100	>100
3d	GI50	>100	95.48 ± 11.62	>100
	TGI	>100	>100	>100
	LC50	>100	>100	>100
3f	GI50	83.72 ± 9.73	>100	>100
	TGI	>100	>100	>100
	LC50	>100	>100	>100
3i	GI50	96.73 ± 11.27	81.29 ± 8.28	41.97 ± 4.97
	TGI	>100	>100	86.66 ± 7.14
	LC50	>100	>100	>100
3j	GI50	71.06 ± 4.87	63.87 ± 3.49	>100
	TGI	>100	>100	>100
	LC50	>100	>100	>100
8	GI50	72.08 ± 6.94	42.25 ± 4.11	>100
	TGI	>100	>100	>100
	LC50	>100	>100	>100
11c	GI50	16.39 ± 1.79	12.67 ± 1.08	43.78 ± 1.05
	TGI	25.28 ± 2.39	21.87 ± 2.10	>100
	LC50	38.99 ± 3.01	37.77 ± 3.91	>100

The range of doses assayed was 0.01–100 µM/mL; Results are mean ± SE (standard error of the mean)

(n = 3); The GI50, TGI and LC50 for the other products are >100.

In conclusion, concerning the effect on the growth of human cancer cell lines, 11c was found to have the best inhibitory activity towards all the three cell lines, followed by 3i that caused 50% cell growth inhibition on all the cancer cell lines. This activity could be attributed to heterocyclic fused rings system such as naphtha[1,8-ef]diazepines and pyrrolo[1,2-a]perimidine derivatives containing multiple centers with hydrogen accepting properties (COMe, C=O and nitrogen atoms), are essential for DNA intercalating activity and antitumor activity.

2.2.2. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) Assay

All the samples show weak antioxidant (ORAC) activity as scavengers. Compounds with antioxidant potential can directly interact with ROS, thereby reducing oxidative damage [41]. To investigate further the mechanism of action by which compounds 3, 8 and 11 exert a protective effect under oxidative stress conditions, the potential radical-scavenging activity using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) chemical assay was evaluated.

The values of the area under the curve (AUC, Table 3) showed also that compounds 3, 8 and 11 are much weaker scavengers than the reference compound Trolox, as the decline in fluorescence over time was significantly more rapid for all of the tested compounds than for Trolox (assayed at 8 μM concentration), indicating that they are not as effective as Trolox in scavenging peroxyl radicals generated by the thermal decomposition of 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH). Thus, because peroxy radicals are not effectively neutralized by the studied compounds, fluorescein is degraded, resulting in non-fluorescent products.

Table 3

ORAC values for antioxidant activity of compounds 3, 8, and 11.

Comp. No.	ORAC Value	Comp. No.	ORAC Value
3d	0.61 ± 0.04	11c	0.86 ± 0.09
3f	0.74 ± 0.07	11d	0.43 ± 0.59
3h	0.54 ± 0.06	11b	0.51 ± 0.10
3i	0.97 ± 0.10	11f	0.60 ± 0.07
3j	0.68 ± 0.03	11e	0.62 ± 0.09
3c	0.81 ± 0.05	11g	0.42 ± 0.05
3e	0.65 ± 0.07	11a	0.53 ± 0.08
8	0.72 ± 0.06	11h	0.59 ± 0.06

Data expressed as mean ± SE (standard error of the mean) (n = 3), and ORAC values expressed as µM of Trolox/mg sample.

3. Experimental

3.1. General Information

All melting points were determined on an electrothermal Gallenkamp apparatus. Solvents were generally distilled and dried by standard literature procedures prior to use. The IR spectra were measured on a Pye-Unicam SP300 instrument in potassium bromide discs. The 1H-NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian Mercury VXR-300 MHz spectrometer (300 MHz for 1H-NMR and 75 MHz for 13C-NMR) and reported as the chemical shifts δ (ppm) downfield from tetramethylsilane (TMS) used as an internal standard. The mass spectra were recorded on a GCMS-Q1000-EX Shimadzu or GCMS 5988-A HP spectrometer; the ionizing voltage was 70 eV. Elemental analyses were carried out by the Microanalytical Center of Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. TLC was run on silica gel G coated plates and iodine vapour was used as visualizing agent.

3.2. General Procedure for the Reaction of Hydrazonoyl Chlorides with 1,8-Diaminonaphthalene

To a stirred solution of 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (1, 0.79 g, 5 mmol) and the appropriate hydrazonoyl chloride (5 mmol) in dioxane (40 mL), triethylamine (0.7 mL) was added dropwise and the mixture was then refluxed for 5 h. The precipitated triethylamine hydrochloride was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was triturated with methanol. The solid product formed in each case was collected by filtration, washed with water, dried and recrystallized from a suitable solvent system as indicated in each example to afford the corresponding derivatives 3a–j and 5b,d,f.

2-(4-Methoxyphenylazo)-3-methyl-1H-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine (3a). Red solid (86%); mp 200–202 °C (EtOH); IR (KBr) νmax 3394, 3286 (2NH) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 2.25 (s, 3H, CH3), 3.58 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.65–7.92 (m, 10H, Ar-H), 9.98 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable), 10.10 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable); MS m/z (%) 331 (M++1, 4), 330 (M+, 14), 327 (5), 140 (12), 123 (18), 122 (100), 107 (11), 77 (6). Anal. Calcd. for C20H18N4O (330.38): C, 72.71; H, 5.49; N, 16.96. Found: C, 72.49; H, 5.37; N, 16.75%.

2-(4-Methylphenylazo)-3-methyl-1H-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine (3b). Orange solid (88%); mp 240–242 °C (EtOH); IR (KBr) νmax 3398, 3105 (2NH) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 2.28 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.35 (s, 3H, CH3), 7.13–7.55 (m, 10H, Ar-H), 10.63 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable), 12.01 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable); MS m/z (%) 315 (M++1, 24), 314 (M+, 100), 313 (10), 297 (14), 209 (33), 167 (64), 140 (69), 106 (94), 91 (23), 77 (45). Anal. Calcd. for C20H18N4 (314.38): C, 76.41; H, 5.77; N, 17.82. Found: C, 76.26; H, 5.47; N, 17.61%.

2-(3-Methylphenylazo)-3-methyl-1H-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine (3c). Orange solid (78%); mp 150–152 °C (EtOH); IR (KBr) νmax 3345, 3225 (2NH) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 2.25 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.32 (s, 3H, CH3), 6.85–7.37 (m, 10H, Ar-H), 9.85 (s, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable), 10.20 (s, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable); MS m/z (%), 315 (M++1, 24), 314 (M+, 100), 313 (72), 297 (20), 280 (13), 208 (8), 167 (71), 147 (66), 140 (70), 107 (52), 91 (19), 77 (29). Anal. Calcd. for C20H18N4 (314.38): C, 76.41; H, 5.77; N, 17.82. Found: C, 76.24; H, 5.51; N, 17.64%.

2-Phenylazo-3-methyl-1H-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine (3d). Red solid (86%); mp 194–196 °C (EtOH); IR (KBr) νmax 3215, 3154 (2NH) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 2.21 (s, 3H, CH3), 6.66–7.53 (m, 11H, Ar-H), 9.67 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable), 9.90 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable); MS m/z (%) 300 (M+, 45), 299 (35), 283 (17), 255 (21), 251 (20), 207 (41), 166 (100), 89 (21), 77 (21). Anal. Calcd. for C19H16N4 (300.36): C, 75.98; H, 5.37; N, 18.65. Found: C, 75.84; H, 5.21; N, 18.46%.

2-(3-Chlorophenylazo)-3-methyl-1H-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine (3e). Orange solid (75%); mp 230–232 °C (EtOH); IR (KBr) νmax 3200, 3116 (2NH) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 2.31 (s, 3H, CH3), 7.01–7.89 (m, 10H, Ar-H), 10.20 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable), 10.54 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable); MS m/z (%) 336 (M++2, 7), 335 (M++1, 8), 334 (M+, 31), 208 (20), 166 (75), 140 (100), 111 (12), 90 (12), 75 (16). Anal. Calcd. for C19H15ClN4 (334.80): C, 68.16; H, 4.52; N, 16.73. Found: C, 68.05; H, 4.34; N, 16.41%.

2-(4-Chlorophenylazo)-3-methyl-1H-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine (3f). Deep-orange solid (83%); mp > 300 °C (EtOH/dioxane); IR (KBr) νmax 3325, 3150 (2NH) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 2.27 (s, 3H, CH3), 6.76–7.58 (m, 10H, Ar-H), 9.91 (s, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable), 10.01 (s, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable); MS m/z (%) 336 (M++2, 19), 335 (M++1, 21), 334 (M+, 60), 208 (13), 166 (100), 139 (19), 126 (12), 113 (10), 111 (4), 63 (11). Anal. Calcd. For C19H15ClN4 (334.80): C, 68.16; H, 4.52; N, 16.73. Found: C, 68.05; H, 4.34; N, 16.41%.

2-(3-Nitrophenylazo)-3-methyl-1H-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine (3g). Green solid (77%); mp > 300 °C (EtOH/dioxane); IR (KBr) νmax 3348, 3100 (2NH) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 2.31 (s, 3H, CH3), 6.89–8.07 (m, 10H, Ar-H), 8.31 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable), 10.60 (s, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable); MS m/z (%) 345 (M+, 68), 328 (4), 234 (8), 208 (19), 194 (15), 166 (100), 140 (93), 76 (6). Anal. Calcd. for C19H15N5O2 (345.35): C, 66.08; H, 4.38; N, 20.28. Found: C, 65.91; H, 4.11; N, 20.04%.

2-(4-Nitrophenylazo)-3-methyl-1H-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine (3h). Pale-brown solid (75%); mp 260–262°C (EtOH/dioxane); IR (KBr) νmax 3382, 3290 (2NH) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 2.26 (s, 3H, CH3), 6.66–7.17 (m, 6H, Ar-H), 7.66 (d, J = 9 Hz, 2H, Ar-H), 8.17 (d, J = 9 Hz, 2H, Ar-H), 10.03 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable), 10.43 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable); MS m/z (%) 345 (M+, 69), 344 (54), 342 (43), 208 (29), 166 (100), 140 (57), 122 (20), 114 (46), 108 (46), 77 (26), 60 (63). Anal. Calcd. for C19H15N5O2 (345.35): C, 66.08; H, 4.38; N, 20.28. Found: C, 65.87; H, 4.20; N, 20.12%.

2-(4-Acetylphenylazo)-3-methyl-1H-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine (3i). Dark orange solid (78%); mp 280–282 °C (EtOH/dioxane); IR (KBr) νmax 3394, 3286 (2NH), 1654 (C=O) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 2.25 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.51 (s, 3H, CH3), 6.65–7.20 (m, 6H, Ar-H), 7.59 (d, J = 9 Hz, 2H, Ar-H), 7.89 (d, J = 9 Hz, 2H, Ar-H), 9.98 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable), 10.10 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable); MS m/z (%) 342 (M+, 58), 341 (48), 208 (12), 166 (100), 163 (22), 140 (56), 139 (43), 120 (14), 91 (10). Anal. Calcd. for C21H18N4O (342.39): C, 73.67; H, 5.30; N, 16.36. Found: C, 73.52; H, 5.17; N, 16.15%.

2-(4-Ethoxycarbonylphenylhydrazono)-3-methyl-1H-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4] diazepine (3j). Red solid (81%); mp 120–122 °C (EtOH); IR (KBr) νmax 3200, 3150 (2NH), 1685 (CO) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 1.29 (t, J = 7 Hz, 3H, CH3), 2.35 (s, 3H, CH3), 4.27 (q, J = 7 Hz, 2H, CH2), 7.0–7.95 (m, 10H, Ar-H), 10.20 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable), 10.65 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable); MS m/z (%) 372 (M+, 47), 371 (20), 365 (60), 340 (60), 203 (13), 166 (100), 150 (40), 149 (80), 123 (80), 93 (100), 77 (73). Anal. Calcd. for C22H20N4O2 (372.42): C, 70.95; H, 5.41; N, 15.04. Found: C, 70.72; H, 5.19; N, 14.84%.

2-(4-Methylphenylhydrazono)-1,4-dihydro-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine-3-one (5a). Orange solid (80%); mp 100 °C (EtOH); IR (KBr) νmax 3325, 3215, 3120 (3NH), 1658 (C=O) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 2.30 (s, 3H, CH3), 7.05–7.67 (m, 10H, Ar-H), 9.95 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable), 10.15 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable), 10.91 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable); MS m/z (%) 316 (M+, 5), 315 (2), 225 (27), 197 (13), 134 (13), 106 (100), 105 (23), 91 (46), 89 (15), 77 (25). Anal. Calcd. for C19H16N4O (316.36): C, 72.13; H, 5.10; N, 17.71. Found: C, 71.96; H, 4.87; N, 17.50%.

2-(4-Chlorophenylhydrazono)-1,4-dihydro-naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepine-3-one (5b). Yellow solid (83%); mp 120–122 °C (EtOH); IR (KBr) νmax 3315, 3204, 3210 (3NH), 1660 (C=O) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 6.94–7.85 (m, 10H, Ar-Hs), 9.87 (s, 1H, NH, D2O-exchangeable), 10.21 (s, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable), 10.57 (s, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable); MS m/z (%) 338 (M++2, 10), 337 (M++1, 1), 336 (M+, 35), 168 (100), 140 (25), 114 (11), 111 (1), 84 (19). Anal. Calcd. For C18H13ClN4O (336.77): C, 64.19; H, 3.89; N, 16.64. Found: C, 64.35; H, 3.66; N, 16.48%.

Synthesis of 2-(2-hydroxybenzoylmethylene)-1,2-dihydro-perimidine (8). A mixture of 1,8-diamino-naphthalene (1) (1.58, 10 mmol) and 4-hydroxycoumarin (6, 1.62 g, 10 mmol) in ethanol (20 mL) was heated to reflux for 5 h, then cooled. The solid formed was collected by filtration and washed with ethanol, then crystallized from a dioxane/ethanol mixture to give compound 8 as golden yellow crystals, (89%), mp 300 °C, IR (KBr) νmax 3490, 3220, 3116 (2NH, OH), 1647 (CO) cm−1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) 5.62 (s, 1H, CH), 6.63–7.572 (m, 10H, Ar-H), 10.91 (s, 1H, NH), 12.63 (s, 1H, OH), 13.78 (s, 1H, NH); 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): 77.15 (=CH), 106.0, 116.37, 117.76, 118.41, 119.11, 119.52, 120.26, 126.81, 128.34, 132.99, 134.13, 153.50, 161.22 (Ar-C), 186.22 (C=O). MS m/z (%) 302 (M+, 67), 301 (47), 182 (100), 168 (20), 127 (19), 121 (45), 114 (12), 93 (12). Anal. Calcd. For C19H14N2O2 (302.33) C, 75.48; H, 4.67; N, 9.27. Found: C, 75.25; H, 4.41; N, 9.46%.

Reaction of compound 8 with hydrazonoyl chlorides 4a–h. To a mixture of compound 8 (5 mmol) and the appropriate hydrazonoyl chloride 4a–h (5 mmol of each) in dioxane (30 mL) was added triethylamine (0.7 mL) and the mixture was heated to reflux for 10 h, then cooled. The solid produced was collected by filtration and crystallized from the appropriate solvent to give the corresponding compounds 11a–h.

8-(2-Hydroxybenzoyl)-7H-9-(4-methylphenylhydrazono)-pyrrolo[1,2-a] perimidin-10-one (11a). Orange solid, (82%); mp > 320 °С (ethanol/dioxane), IR (KBr) νmax 3200–3100 (2NH, OH), 1690, 1639 (2C=O) cm−1, 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ: 2.19 (s, 3H, CH3), 6.73–7.67 (m, 14H, Ar-H), 9.89 (s, 1H, NH), 12.04 (s, 1H, OH), 13.80 (s, 1H, NH); MS m/z (%) 460 (M+, 13), 459 (11), 458 (18), 340 (17), 339 (44), 338 (52), 283 (9), 248 (7), 221 (6), 167 (15), 166 (27), 152 (21), 127 (26), 121 (43), 106 (40), 91 (54), 84 (98), 84 (64), 77 (37), 55 (100). Anal. Calcd. for C28H20N4O3 (460.48): C, 73.03; H, 4.38; N, 12.17. Found: C, 73.31; H, 4.17; N, 11.97%.

8-(2-Hydroxybenzoyl)-7H-9-(3-methylphenylhydrazono)-pyrrolo[1,2-a] perimidin-10-one (11b). Orange solid, (79%); mp 288–290 °С (ethanol/dioxane), IR (KBr) νmax 3236, 3100 (2NH, OH), 1689, 1647 (2C=O) cm−1, 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ: 2.20 (s, 3H, CH3), 6.61–8.50 (m, 14H, Ar-H), 9.85 (s, 1H, NH), 11.70 (s, 1H, OH), 12.03 (s, 1H, NH); MS m/z (%) 460 (M+, 13), 459 (15), 458 (15), 340 (15), 339 (38), 338 (100), 337 (35), 254 (24), 178 (21), 169 (29), 138 (29), 127 (29), 124 (18), 93 (27), 92 (63), 91 (38), 84 (18), 83 (21), 77 (59), 76 (32). Anal. Calcd. for C28H20N4O3 (460.48): C, 73.03; H, 4.38; N, 12.17. Found: C, 73.25; H, 4.09; N, 11.91%.

8-(2-Hydroxybenzoyl)-7H-9-phenylhydrazono-pyrrolo[1,2-a]perimidin-10-one (11c). Yellow solid, (85%); mp: 275–277 °С (ethanol/dioxane), IR (KBr) νmax 3429, 3249 (2NH, OH), 1689, 1643 (2C=O) cm−1, 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ: 6.77–8.47 (m, 15H, Ar-H), 10.0 (s, 1H, NH), 11.70 (s, 1H, OH), 12.02 (s, 1H, NH); MS m/z (%) 446 (M+, 27), 445 (23), 444 (23), 175(18), 140 (18), 120 (32), 95 (27), 90 (32), 82 (41), 77 (32), 64 (100). Anal. Calcd. for C27H18N4O3 (446.46): C, 72.64; H, 4.06; N, 12.55. Found: C, 72.51; H, 4.13; N, 12.29%.

8-(2-Hydroxybenzoyl)-7H-9-(4-chlorophenylhydrazono)-pyrrolo[1,2-a] perimidin-10-one (11d). Orange solid, (83%); mp 308–310 °С (ethanol/dioxane), IR (KBr) νmax 3430–3247 (br. 2NH, OH), 1688, 1644 (2C=O) cm−1, 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ: 6.70–8.39 (m, 14H, Ar-H), 9.80 (s, 1H, NH), 9.98 (s, 1H, OH), 11.94 (s, 1H, NH); MS m/z (%) 480 (M+, 11), 479 (15), 339 (46), 338 (100), 337 (21), 254 (14), 178 (29), 169 (16), 138 (29), 127 (29), 111 (43), 92 (63), 91 (24), 76 (31). Anal. Calcd. for C27H17ClN4O3 (480.90): C, 67.43; H, 3.56; N, 11.65. Found: C, 67.20; H, 3.32; N, 11.45%.

8-(2-Hydroxybenzoyl)-7H-9-(4-bromophenylhydrazono)-pyrrolo[1,2-a] perimidin-10-one (11e). Dark red solid, (84%); mp 278–280 °С (ethanol/dioxane), IR (KBr) νmax 3413, 3200, 3150 (2NH, OH), 1689, 1647 (2C=O) cm−1, 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ: 6.70–8.44 (m, 14H, Ar-H), 9.61 (s, 1H, NH), 9.97 (s, 1H, OH), 11.94 (s, 1H, NH); MS m/z (%) 526 (M++1, 20), 525 (M+, 20), 524 (25), 523 (41), 505 (25), 340 (29), 339 (94), 338 (100), 254 (29), 219 (16), 179 (22), 173 (31), 166 (67), 155 (37), 138 (29), 121 (69), 104 (27), 93 (27), 92 (39), 91 (37), 77 (39), 76 (43), 75 (43). Anal. Calcd. for C27H17BrN4O3 (525.35): C, 61.73; H, 3.26; N, 10.66. Found: C, 61.54; H, 3.05; N, 10.47%.

8-(2-Hydroxybenzoyl)-7H-9-(3-nitrophenylhydrazono)-pyrrolo[1,2-a]perimidin-10-one (11f). Orange solid, (76%); mp > 320 °С (ethanol/dioxane), IR (KBr) νmax 3433, 3235 (2NH, OH), 1687, 1647 (2C=O) cm−1, 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ: 6.86–8.43 (m, 14H, Ar-H), 10.05 (s, 1H, NH), 12.20 (s, 1H, OH), 12.44 (s, 1H, NH); MS m/z (%) 491 (M+, 20), 490 (15), 489 (29), 473 (29), 340 (21), 339 (65), 338 (100), 337 (46), 253 (25), 184 (15), 166 (32), 152 (26), 121 (44), 93 (22), 76 (47). Anal. Calcd. for C27H17N5O5 (491.45): C, 65.99; H, 3.49; N, 14.25. Found: C, 65.75; H, 3.21; N, 14.08%.

8-(2-Hydroxybenzoyl)-7H-9-(4-nitrophenylhydrazono)-pyrrolo[1,2-a]perimidin-10-one (11g). Red solid, (81%); mp 310–313 °С (dioxane), IR (KBr) νmax 3400, 3350, 3220 (2NH, OH), 1693, 1647 (2C=O) cm−1, 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ: 6.90–7.92 (m, 14H, Ar-H), 9.79 (s, 1H, NH), 11.82 (s, 1H, OH), 12.17 (s, 1H, NH); MS m/z (%) 491 (M+, 5), 490 (12), 489 (28), 473 (62), 338 (100), 253 (22), 179 (11), 166 (31), 152 (19), 121 (29), 104 (18), 93 (22), 76 (57). Anal. Calcd. for C27H17N5O5 (491.45): C, 65.99; H, 3.49; N, 14.25. Found: C, 65.69; H, 3.30; N, 14.45%.

8-(2-Hydroxybenzoyl)-7H-9-(4-acetylphenylhydrazono)-pyrrolo[1,2-a]perimidin-10-one (11h). Orange solid, (82%); mp 298–300 °С (dioxane), IR (KBr) νmax 3350, 3240, 3100 (2NH, OH), 1700, 1689, 1647 (3C=O) cm−1, 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) δ: 2.47 (s, 3H, CH3), 6.85–8.49 (m, 14H, Ar-H), 9.84 (s, 1H, NH), 11.80 (s, 1H, OH), 12.13 (s, 1H, NH); MS m/z (%) 488 (M+, 46), 338 (55), 326 (55), 153 (46), 137 (64), 135 (73), 121 (82), 104 (64), 92 (55), 84 (64), 77 (91), 76 (73), 60 (100). Anal. Calcd. for C29H20N4O4 (488.49): C, 71.30; H, 4.13; N, 11.47. Found: C, 71.14; H, 4.0; N, 11.19%.

3.3. ORAC Assay

Scavenging activity was measured by using an ORAC assay [42]. Dilutions of the samples 3c–f,h–j, 8, and 11a–h and Trolox (as antioxidant reference compound) were incubated for 10 min at 37 °C in fluorescein (70 nM final concentration). After this incubation period, 2,2''-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (12 mM final concentration) was added to the mixture. Fluorescence was read every 56 s for 98 min using a FLUOstar Optima (BMG Labtech, Headquarters, Germany) fluorometer. Area under curve values were calculated for each sample and compared with the AUC corresponding to Trolox. Results are expressed as µM of Trolox equivalents/mg of sample.

3.4. Human Cell Lines for Cytotoxicity Assays

The human renal denocarcinoma (TK-10), the human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and the human melanoma (UACC-62) Cell lines were used in these experiments. The human tumour cytotoxicities were determined following protocols established by the NCI [43]. TK-10, MCF-7 and UACC-62 cell lines were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium (Bio Whittaker, Basel, Switzerland) containing 20% foetal calf serum (FCS), 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 µg/mL penicillin and 100 µg/mL streptomycin. All cell lines were maintained at 37 °C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere with 95% humidity. Maintenance cultures were passaged weekly, and the culture medium was changed twice a week.

3.5. Testing Procedure and Data Processing

The sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay is used for cell density determination, based on the measurement of cellular protein content. The method described here has been optimized for the toxicity screening of compounds to adherent cells in a 96-well format. Viable cells were counted using a Coulter counter and diluted with medium to give final densities of 15 × 104, 5 × 104 and 100 × 104 cells/mL for TK-10, MCF-7and UACC-62, respectively. After 24 h, the cells were treated with the serial concentrations of extracts. One hundred microlitres per well of each concentration was added to the plates to obtain final concentration of 10−4, 10−5, 10−6, 10−7 and 10−8 M. The final volume in each well was 200 µg/mL. The plates were incubated for 48 h.

3.6. Sulphorhodamine B Method

After an incubation period for 48 h, cell monolayers are fixed with 50 µL of cold 50% (wt/vol) trichloroacetic acid (TAC) and stained for 60 min at 4 °C, after which the excess dye (SRB solution 0.4% w/v in 1% acetic acid) is removed after 30 min incubated, by washing repeatedly with 1% (vol/vol) acetic acid. The protein-bound dye is dissolved in 10 mM Tris base solution for OD determination at 492 nm using a microplate reader. At the end, GI50 values (concentrations required to inhibit cell growth by 50%), TGI (concentration resulting in total growth inhibition) and LC50 (concentration causing 50% of net cell killing) were calculated according to the previously described protocols [43]. Two or three experiments were carried out for each extract or compound. The data are given as the mean of three different assays ± SE.

4. Conclusions

Highly efficient and simple methods were described for the preparation of two series of naphtho[1,8-ef][1,4]diazepines and pyrrolo[1,2-a]perimidines from 1,8-diaminonaphthalene and hydrazonoyl chlorides. The mechanism of formation of such products was discussed. The newly synthesized compounds were examined for in vitro activity against several human cancer cell lines, including TK-10, MCF-7 and UACC-62. Compound 11c was found to have the best inhibitory activity towards all the three cell lines, followed by 3i that caused inhibition of 50% of cell growth on all the cancer cell lines.