Synthesis of Dithiacrown Ethers and Evaluation of Their Cytotoxic Activity

Abstract

AbstractNew derivatives of thiacrown ethers were synthesized based on the domino reaction of 1,5‐bis(2‐formylphenthio)‐3‐oxapentane with ketones containing active methylene group and ammonium acetate. After 24 hours at moderate temperature, the reaction afforded new substances containing both polyether chain S(CH2)2−O−(CH2)2−S and heterocyclic piperidone. Particularly when benzyl acetoacetate was used, the three ‐ component reaction provided a final tetrahydropyridine derivative product containing enamine fragment instead of piperidone as expected. Physico‐chemical methods of analyses including IR, 1H &13C‐NMR and HRMS were used to clarify these structures. Subsequently, the cytotoxicity of five novel derivatives were evaluated on four cancer cells including HeLa (HeLa cervical cancer), Hep‐G2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma), MCF7 (human breast adenocarcinoma), Lu‐1 (human lung adenocarcinoma) and Vero cell. The result showed the potential application of these compounds in terms of biological activity.