Ligand-free MCR for linking quinoxaline framework with a benzimidazole nucleus: a new strategy for the identification of novel hybrid molecules as potential inducers of apoptosis.

We report a true MCR involving the reaction of N-(prop-2-ynyl)quinoxalin-2-amine derivatives with 2-iodoanilines and tosyl azide in the presence of 10 mol% of CuI and Et3N in DMSO to afford the pre-designed hybrid molecules containing quinoxaline framework linked with a benzimidazole nucleus. The MCR proceeds in the absence of any ligand and/or lateral addition of the catalyst/base affording products within 30 min in good yields, some of which showed encouraging apoptosis inducing properties in zebrafish.