Synthesis, structure-activity relationship of iodinated-4-aryloxymethyl-coumarins as potential anti-cancer and anti-mycobacterial agents.

A series of new iodinated-4-aryloxymethylcoumarins 6, 8 and 10 have been obtained from the reaction of various 4-bromomethylcoumarins 4 with 2-iodophenol 5, 3-iodophenol 7 and 4-iodophenol 9 respectively. All the title compounds were screened for anticancer activity against two cancer cell lines (MDA-MB human adenocarcinoma mammary gland and A-549 human lung carcinoma) and two mycobacterial strains (Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇ RV and Mycobacterium phlei). The SAR results indicate that nine compounds are potent, among these 10h and 10i having chlorine are most effective. This is the first report assigning in vitro anti-mycobacterial, anticancer and structure-activity relationship for this new class of iodinated-4-aryloxymethyl-coumarins.