“MCR-Click” synthesis of coumarin-tagged macrocycles with large Stokes shift values and cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

Abstract

A three step “MCR-Click” strategy has been developed for the synthesis of a library of coumarin-tagged macrocycles with varying ring size from 11 to 18. The coumarin moiety connected to the peptidomimetic macrocycles thorough a keto-methylenic spacer helps the molecules to become optical systems with controlled emission properties. All the twelve macrocycles developed are emitting in the green region with high Stokes shift values indicating the potential of these molecules as probes for bioimaging applications. Similarly, the excellent cytotoxicity exhibited by the molecules toward human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) further indicating the possibilities of these new macrocycles as potential anticancer/antitumor agents.