Recent Progress in the Synthesis and Biological Activity of Chromene and Its Derivatives

Abstract

Heterocycles have a crucial role in the design and discovery of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Chromenes are heterocycles containing oxygen that are abundantly found in nature and have attracted much attention because of their interesting drug activities. Chromene and its derivatives cover an extensive range of biological properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and antimicrobial properties. Regarding the numerous investigations conducted on these valuable compounds during the past few years, we have also pointed to the advances of the last five years in the field of the synthetic and biological importance of these compounds. Concerning the high importance of synthesis of chromene and its derivatives by synthesis methods of 2H-chromenes, 4H-chromenes, benzochromenes, benzopyrans and fused-chromenes, we mentioned that this issue includes the necessity of using various catalysts in mild conditions and/or in microwave conditions. In the following, concerning the very high biological importance of chromenes, we implied some biological properties, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and antimicrobial activities, which indicated that the considered results could be promising and effective for the use of chromene derivatives in the field of drug design. Ultimately, we mentioned several vital methods and strategies include green synthesis and multi-component reactions in various categories for the general synthesis of various types of chromene derivatives. In economical, efficient, green and mild conditions, the above-said methods can synthesize high-efficiency products of chromene and its derivatives in a short period of time.