Synthesis of 2-substituted Furo[3,2-b]pyridines Under Pd/C-Cu Catalysis Assisted by Ultrasound: Their Evaluation as Potential Cytotoxic Agents.

Abstract

Compounds containing furo[3,2-b]pyridine framework have shown interesting pharmacological properties, including anticancer activities. Though these compounds are generally synthesized via the heteroannulation processes involving acetylenic derivatives, some of them are complex. The study aimed to explore a series of 2-substituted furo[3,2-b]pyridines for their cytotoxic properties against cancer cell lines in vitro. We developed a convenient synthesis of 2-substituted furo[3,2-b]pyridines via sequential (i) C-C coupling followed by (ii) C-O bond-forming reactions in a single pot. The reactions were performed under ultrasound irradiation in the presence of Pd/C as an inexpensive, stable and widely used catalyst. A range of 2- substituted furo[3,2-b]pyridines were synthesized via coupling of 3-chloro-2-hydroxy pyridine with terminal alkynes in the presence of 10% Pd/C-CuI-PPh3-Et3N in EtOH. The in vitro evaluation of all these compounds was carried out against MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines and subsequently against SIRT1. The furo[3,2-b]pyridine derivative 3b showed encouraging growth inhibition of both MDAMB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines and inhibition of SIRT1. The compound 3b also showed apoptosis-inducing potential when tested against MCF-7 cells. The Pd/C-Cu catalysis under ultrasound accomplished a one-pot and direct access to 2-substituted furo[3,2-b]pyridine derivatives, some of which showed anticancer properties.