Chromene, Quinoline Hybrids as Potential Anti-Cancer Agents: A Novel and Distinct Approach for the Synthesis of Quinoline Derivatives

A series of novel quinoline derivatives (6-phenyl-6H-chromeno[4,3-b]quinoline) have been prepared by using 4-chloro-2-phenyl-2H-chromene-3-carbaldehyde and various substituted isocyanides as starting materials in the presence of HClO4-SiO2 and Methanol. We screened eighteen compounds of this novel series (6a-r) in six different cancer cell lines (A549 (lung cancer cells), DU145 (prostate cancer cells), PC3 (prostate cancer cells), MCF7 (lung cancer cells), HT 29, HCT 116 (colon cancer cells). Most of the compounds showed anti-cancer activity and compound 6b showed good cytotoxicity IC50 = 2.61±0.34 μM against colon cancer on HT29 cell line among all. The key property of cell migration was observed while treatment cells with 6b. Apoptosis in HT29 cells confirmed by annexin V staining, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB), DAPI, induced by 6b. This method is operationally simple and works with a diverse range of substrates. These results indicate the anticancer potential of these series and warrants future investigations for further anticancer drug development.