Microwave assisted synthesis and cytotoxic activity evaluations of new benzimidazole derivatives

Abstract

Twelve new 2-quinolizinylbenzimidazole and 2-naphthalylbenzimidazole derivatives with various 5- and 6-positioned substituents (aza, H, CH₃, Cl, NO₂, NH₂, OCH₃), have been synthesized in moderate to excellent yields via the condensation of 4-oxo-4H-quinolizinecarbaldehyde or naphthalenecarbaldehyde with substituted o-phenylenediamines, o-nitroaniline, and 2,3-pyridinediamine using sodium metabisulfite or sodium hydrosulfite under microwave irradiation. The new benzimidazole derivatives were screened for their cytotoxic activity against the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The results showed on one hand that 2-(substituted quinolizinyl)-1H-benzimidazoles (12b–f) were less active (3–6 fold) than the positive control Tamoxifen (CC₅₀ = 6.52 μM), and on the other hand, among the 2-(substituted naphthalyl)-1H-benzimidazoles series (13a–f), compounds 6,7,8-trimethoxy-3-(5-chloro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)naphthalen-1-ol (13c) (CC₅₀ = 7.48 μM) and 6,7,8-trimethoxy-3-(5-methoxy-1H-benzo [d] imidazol-2-yl)naphthalen-1-ol (13f) (CC₅₀ = 6.43 μM) were found to be as active as Tamoxifen.