IJOCInternational Journal of Organic Chemistry2161-4687Scientific Research Publishing10.4236/ijoc.2020.102006IJOC-101215ArticlesBiomedical&Life Sciences Chemistry&Materials Science Synthesis of New 2-Phenylamino-4<i>H</i>-chromene-3-carbonitrile Derivatives and Their Effects on Tumor Cell Lines and against Protein Kinases AliBouattour1MehdiFakhfakh1SouhirAbid2LudovicPaquin3RémyLe Guével4ThierryCharlier4SandrineRuchaud5StéphaneBach5Jean-PierreBazureau6*HoucineAmmar1Université de Rennes 1, ImPACcell Platform, Campus Villejean, Rennes, FranceLaboratoire de Chimie Appliquée: Hétérocycles, Corps Gras et Polymères, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax, Sfax, TunisieSorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, CNRS USR3151, Protein Phosphorylation and Human Disease Unit, KISSf Platform, Station Biologique, Place Georges Teissier, Roscoff, FranceInstitut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes (ISCR), UMR CNRS 6226, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu, Rennes, FranceDépartement de Chimie, Collège des Sciences et des Arts, Université de Jouf, Al Qurayyat, KSAS2 Wave Platform, ScanMAT UMS 2001CNRS, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu, Rennes, France2904202010028810327, February 202027, June 2020 30, June 2020© Copyright 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. 2014This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The synthesis of 2-phenylimino-4 H-chromene-3-carbonitriles 6(a-d) in good overall yields using an efficient and practical methodology in 3 steps has been implemented in this present work. The first step was a heterocyclization between 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde 1 and propanedinitrile 2 which produced 2-iminocoumarin 3 which was submitted to nitrogen/nitrogen displacement in the presence of aromatic primary amine 4. In the third step, reduction of 5 led to the desired 2-phenylimino-4 H-chromene-3-carbonitriles 6. Compounds 5(a-d) and 6(a-d) were evaluated for their potential in vitro cytotoxicity against six selected tumor cell lines (Huh7-D12, Caco2, MDA-MB231, HCT 116, PC3 and NCI-H727) and tested for their protein kinase inhibition on eight selected protein kinases. Among them, compounds 5c and 6b exhibited inhibition on HsCK1e ( 5c: 44% and 6b: 42% at 1 μM) and 5c for cytotoxicity on PC3 cell lines (63% at 25 μM).

Iminocoumarin 2<i>H</i>-[1]benzopyran 2-Imino-2<i>H</i>-[1]benzopyran 4<i>H</i>-chromene 2-Amino-4<i>H</i>-chromene Nitrogen/Nitrogen Displacement Protein Kinase Inhibition Cytotoxicity1. Introduction

During the two last decades, the 2-amino-4H-chromene moieties (Figure 1) emerged to be a promising platform in new chromene and benzo chromene derivatives, which exhibit a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities. For examples, CrolibulinTM (EPC 2407) (I) was currently in phase I/II of clinical trials in 2016 for the treatment of aggressive and advanced solid tumors [1] [2] [3] [4]. During the randomized phase II trial (NTC01240590) [5], the authors compared the activity of the combination of CrolibulinTM plus cisplatin with cisplatin alone on a maximum of 40 enrolled patients with a focus on anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). MX 58151 (II) or 2-amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4H- chromene-3-carbonitrile was identified as a tubulin inhibitor [6]. It induced apoptosis with an EC50 of 50 nM and inhibited cell growth with a GI50 of 37 nM in T47D breast cancer cells [7]. HA 14-1 (III) is another small molecule and nonpeptidic ligand of Bcl-2 surface pocket discovered by using the de novo computer-aided design strategy based on the predicted structure of Bcl-2 protein [8]. In vitro binding studies of HA 14-1 (III) against a set of Jurkat cells confirmed inhibition of Bcl-2 protein [9] [10] and the authors of this study demonstrated that the 6-bromo on (III) is not essential for its bioactivity and the 6-position can accommodate a variety of alkyl and aryl functional groups [11]. SV30 or ethyl [2-amino-6-bromo-4-diethylmalonate]-4H-chromene-3-carboxylate (IV), an analogue of pro-apoptotic molecule HA 14-1 (III), was explored in combination with lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) on F98 cells to improve its biological activities [12]. The authors demonstrated that SV30-LNCs were able to trigger cell death together with a potentiation of the mitochondrial membrane potential decrease. The naphthopyran LY 290181 (V) [2-amino-4-(pyridyl)-4H- naphtho[1,2-b]pyran-3-carbonitrile] was identified in 1997 as a potent antiproliferative compound blocking cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle associated to action on microtubules [13] [14]. Finally, it’s interesting to note that a QSAR (Qualitative Structure Activity Relationship) analysis was developed with novel 3D-descriptors using Triplets Of Pharmacophoric Points (TOPP) on 80 virtual apoptosis inducing 3-amino-4-aryl-4H-chromene-3-carbonitriles [15]; the underlying idea of this work was to optimize the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties via QSAR models prior to synthesis.

As part of our program aimed at developing new methods, new building-blocks and platforms for the preparation of heterocyclic compounds showing potential biological properties for central nervous system (CNS) (Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome) [16] [17], or for cancer (calcium ion channel inhibitors in cancer) [18], we were motivated in this work by the synthetic development of some new 2-amino-4H-[1]-chromene-3-carbonitriles without aryl

substituent in C-4 position but with a phenyl fragment on the 2-amino function, to evaluate their biological activities on protein kinases (PKs) and also their anti-proliferative activities on tumor cell lines.

2. Results and Discussion2.1. Chemistry

For this project, the desired 2-N-phenylamino-4H-chromene-3-carbonitriles 6(a-d) were prepared only in three steps (Scheme 1). The first step involved synthesis of iminocoumarins 3(a, b) or 2-imino-2H-[1]-benzopyran-3-carbonitriles and protocol of this classical heterocyclization was developed in our laboratory [19] [20] [21]. The reaction was realized from an equimolecular mixture of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde 1 (1a: 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde or o-vanillin, 1b: 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde) and propanedinitrile 2 using 0.5% of piperidine in ethanol at room temperature. After a reaction time of 9 hours, the volatile compounds were eliminated in vacuo and we obtained these starting iminocoumarins in good yields (3a: 85% [19], 3b: 90% [22]). For the second step, the transformation of the 2-imino-2H-[1]-benzopyran-3-carbonitriles 3(a, b) into 2-N-phenylimino-2H-[1]-benzopyran-3-carbonitriles 5(a-d) is the key step in our approach for introduction of molecular diversity in this C-2 position. In a preliminary approach, we studied this nitrogen/nitrogen displacement with volatile primary aliphatic amine 4 (from 1 to 2 equivalents) using solvent-less reaction conditions [23] in a mono-mode microwave cavity (MonowaveÒ 300 Anton-Paar apparatus operating at a frequency of 2.45 GHz from 0 to 800 Watt). Initial attempts to obtain a good reproducibility for this nitrogen/nitrogen displacement with primary aliphatic amine 4 involving modification of the reaction conditions (reaction time range: 15 - 60 min., ratio of reagents 3/4: from 1 to 2, reaction temperature, use of non-polar or polar solvents) were unsuccessful. Therefore, we decided to abandon this solvent-less microwave approach.

On the other hand, the use of an aromatic primary amine 4(a, b) associated with an acidic catalysis was much fruitful. Indeed, when this reaction was carried out in glacial acetic acid with an equimolecular mixture of 3 and 4 at room temperature, we observed that after 4 hours, the desired compound 5 obtained by nitrogen/nitrogen displacement (Scheme 2) becomes insoluble in the reaction medium. Thus recovery of this insoluble material by filtration on a Buchner

Scheme 1. Route used for the synthesis of 2-N-phenylamino-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives 6(a-d).

Scheme 2. A plausible suggested mechanism for nitrogen/nitrogen displacement via a nucleophilic attack of amino group of 4 to C-2 imino function of 3.

funnel followed by washing with deionized water allows us to get very easily the four desired 2-N-phenylimino-2H-[1]-benzopyran-3-carbonitriles 5(a-d) in yields ranging from 55% to 80% (Table 1). 1H NMR control in DMSO-d6 of 5(a-d) after filtration showed that no need of supplementary purification and it can be used as it in the next step. Finally for the third step involving transformation of 2-N-phenylimino-2H-[1]-benzopyran-3-carbonitriles 5(a-d) into 2-N-phenyla- mino-4H-chromene-3-carbonitriles 6(a-d), we used an experimental protocol developed in our laboratory [19] but only changing the nature of the solvent reaction (THF vs MeOH) and the reaction temperature. From 0.5 equivalent of sodium borohydride in THF at 25˚C during 45 min., the desired compounds 6(a-d) were obtained in good yields (Table 1) after purification (81% - 89%).

Before exploring their potential biological activities, the four products 5(a-d) and their four reduced derivatives 6(a-d) were characterized by 1H, 13C NMR, HRMS and FTIR. In the IR spectrum, the presence of carbonitrile function in C-3 position was detected at 2227 - 2229 cm−1 for 5(a-d) and at 2189 - 2195 cm−1 for 6(a-d) (Table 1). The C-4 imino functions of 5(a-d) were analyzed at 1650 - 1662 cm−1. Important absorption bands were observed at 3278 - 3320 cm−1 for the NH stretching frequencies of 6(a-d). In 1H NMR spectrum of compounds 6(a-d), a signal located at 3.54 < δ < 3.98 ppm is in agreement with the H-4 methylene fragment. In 13C NMR spectrum, the signal for the CH2 fragment in position C-4 of compounds 6(a-d) is located at 22.4 < d < 25.3 ppm. For HRMS analysis, the [M + Na]+ molecular ion signal for all products 5 and 6 were obtained as base signal.

Results obtained for the preparation of 2-N-phenylimino-2H-[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101215-ref1">1</xref>]-benzopyran-3- carbonitrile 5(a-d) and 2-N-phenylamino-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile 6(a-d)
CompoundYield (%)amp (˚C)IR (en∙cm−1)
n(C=N)n(nitrile)n(NH)
5a60174 - 17616502227-
5b70180 - 18216502227-
5c55196 - 19816622229-
5d80232 - 23416502229-
6a81122 - 124-21953320
6b89148 - 150-21913232
6c84188 - 190-21933278
6d85200 - 202-21893235

aYield of isolated product.

2.2. Biology

For the second part of this project related to 2-N-phenylamino-4H-chromene-3- carbonitrile 6(a-d) and their precursors 5(a-d), we have been interested in exploring their potential biological properties, particularly their impact on protein kinase inhibition activity and their cytotoxic character against various tumor cell lines.

The new compounds 5 and 6 were evaluated on eight different in vitro kinase assays. The selected enzymes are very important in protein phosphorylation of serine, threonine and tyrosine residues, which are connected, in many cellular regulatory mechanisms; dysfunction of protein kinase activities is in many cases responsible for human diseases. The protein kinases used for these in vitro assays are respectively HsCDK5-p25 (Homo sapiens cyclin-dependent kinase 5p-25) [24], HsCDK9/cyclin T (Homo sapiens cyclin T dependent kinase 9 protein) [25], SscCK1ε (casein kinase 1ε, from porcine brain) [26], SscGSK3β (glycogen synthase kinase-3β, from porcine brain) [27], HsPim1 (Homo sapiens Pim1 proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase) [28], MmCLK1 (from Mus musculus, Dual specificity protein kinase) [29] and RnDYRK1A-kd (Rattus norvegicus, Dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase 1A) [30].

Results for these in vivo kinase assays are reported in Table 2 with the rate (%) of residual activities at 10 mM and 1 mM. These results showed three categories of compounds. The first concerns compounds with no significant protein kinase activity (rate > 60% - 70% at 10 μM and 1 μM). The second category integrated compounds with moderate interest because the rate is less than or close to 50% and for the third category; the rate is less than 50% at 10 μM and 1 μM. In this last one, the tested compounds 5 or 6 have a marked effect on the catalytic activity. Examination of results given in Table 2 showed that many compounds (Figure 2) exhibited inhibitory activity on HsCK1e, HsHaspin, HsCDK9/cyclin T. This concerned respectively and particularly HsCK1e with 5c (41% at 1 μM), 5d (57% at 1 μM) and 6c (46% at 10 μM and 59% at 1 μM). For HsHaspin, the

Effects of 2-phenylimino-2H-benzopyran-3-carbonitrile 5(a-d) and 2-N-pheny- lamino-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile 6(a-d) on the catalytic activity of eight protein kinases
Primary screening (% of residual activity at 10 mM and 1 mM)
CompoundConc. (mM)CDK5/ p25CDK9/ cyclin TCK1eGSK3bHaspinPIM1CLK1DYRK1A
5a10≥10096607955968071
19876658291848899
5b1098847885689778≥100
195615290≥100998785
5c109872637860729090
19457447245818058
5d109151386534798182
19454578251787557
6a108662586646525134
1≥10060637467848371
6b107657477153687465
18650426590927567
6c108043465538728174
18954596471807178
6d1087383931317661≥ 100
18963677866777188

NB: ≥ 100, indicates that the compound cannot inhibit the enzymatic activity at the tested concentration. : The compound has an interest on the catalytic activity because the rate is less than or close to 50%; : The compound has a marked effect on the catalytic activity because the rate is less than 50%.

better result was obtained with 5c: 45% at 1 μM. For RnDYRK1A and HsGSK3b, good residual activities were observed only at 10 μM for 6a (RnDYK1A: 34%) and 6d (HsGSK3b: 31%).

Pursuing this biological exploration, the 2-phenylimino-2H-[1]-benzopyran- 3-carbonitrile 5(a-d) and 2-phenylamino-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile 6(a-d) were also subjected for their in vitro cytotoxic potential on six selected human cancer cells which are respectively: Huh7 for hepatocellular carcinoma, Caco2 for colorectal adenocarcinoma, MDA-MB231 for human breast adenocarcinoma, HCT 116 for colon carcinoma, PC3 for human Caucasian prostate adenocarcinoma and NCI-H727 for human lung non-small cell carcinoma. For each tumoral cell line, the % of cell survival was measured at a single dose of 25 μM (after 48 h) in triplicate. Roscovitine, doxorubicin and taxol were used as references for positive control. It can be observed from these primary screening results reported in Table 3 that only two compounds exhibited antiproliferative activities in tumoral cell lines. This concerns 5c, which exhibited cytotoxic effect on HCT 116 (20% of survival), PC3 (63%) and NCI-H727 (41%). The presence of a methoxy group on the 2-phenylimino moiety in 5d increase the percentage of survival, excepted on Caco2 (44%). For compound 6d, which is the reduced derivative of 5d, it showed cytotoxicity against PC3 (61%).

3. Conclusion

This preliminary study described a practical approach to 2-N-phenylamino-4H- chromene-3-carbonitriles 6(a-d) in three steps. The key step in this methodology is the nitrogen/nitrogen displacement between 2-imino-2H-[1]-benzopyran- 3-carbonitriles 5(a-d) and aromatic primary amines 4(a, b) in acetic medium on the 2-imino function. Insolubility of compounds 5(a-d) in the acetic acid mixture

Antiproliferative activity of 2-phenylimino-2H-benzopyran-3-carbonitrile 5(a-d) and 2-phenylamino-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile 6(a-d) on six representative tumor cell lines
Compound% of survival measured at 25 mM (after 48 h using a single dose, triplicate)
Huh7 D12Caco 2MDA-MB231HCT 116PC3NCI-H727
5a9810011111588109
5b9589110648379
5c715578206341
5d614465546054
6a10392103979591
6b839811811987101
6c798790998598
6d869082746191
DMSO100100100100100100
Roscovitine4521387199
Doxorubicin647946233731
Taxol50785092626

NB: : The compound has antiproliferative activity on tumor cell but the survival rate is less than or close to 50%; : The compound has a marked antiproliferative activity on tumor cell and the survival rate is less than 50%.

facilitated its separation by simple filtration, which offers a practical, attractive protocol and extension to a wide variety of aromatic primary amine 4 is possible. The explorations of biological activities were successively performed on a panel of six tumoral cell lines and against eight protein kinases. Among the bioactive compounds, 5c and 6b turned out to be interesting because they present a good percentage of residual activities at 1 μM for HsCK1e. 5c showed also a marked antiproliferative activity on HCT 116 (20% of survival). The present work is the starting point of a new longer program through a next structure activity relationship (RSA) study for a complete identification of a better promising anticancer agent bearing a 2-amino-4H-chromene platform.

4. Experimental Section4.1. Chemistry

General information: Solvents were evaporated with a BUCHI rotary evaporator. All reagents and solvents were purchased from Acros Fisher, Sigma-Aldrich Chimie, and Fluka France and were used without further purification. 1H NMR spectra were recorded on BRUKER Avance 300 (300 MHz) spectrometer and 13C NMR spectra on BRUKER Avance 300 (75 MHz) spectrometer. The high resolution mass spectra (HRMS) were recorded in positive mode using direct Electrospray infusion, respectively on a Waters Q-Tof 2 or on a Thermo Fisher Scientific Q-Exactive spectrometers at the “Centre Régional de Mesures Physiques de l’Ouest” platform and centesimal analysis of the final compounds was performed on a microanalyzer Thermo Scientific Flash EA1112 CHNS/O at the CRMPO platform, ScanMAT UMS CNRS 2001, Rennes, France). IR spectra were registered on a Jasco FT-IR 420 spectrophotometer using KBr pellets. Melting points were determined on a Kofler melting point apparatus and were uncorrected. 2-Imino-2H-[1]-benzopyran-3-carbonitrile 3(a, b) were synthesized according to procedure described in literature [20] [22].

Standard procedure for the synthesis of 2-N-phenylimino-2H-[1]-benzopyran- 3-carbonitrile 5(a-d).

To a stirred solution of 2-imino-2H-1-benzopyrane-3-carbonitriles 3 (1 mmol) in glacial acetic acid (2 ml) was added the primary amine 4 (1 mmol). The resulting mixture was vigorously stirred (500 rpm) at room temperature during 4 hours. The desired product 5 was collected by filtration on a Buchner funnel (porosity No. 4) and washed with deionized water (3 × 10 ml). The desired 2-phenylimino-2H-1-benzopyrane-3-carbonitriles 5 was dried under high vacuum (10−2 torr) at 25˚C for 1 h to give a powder and then used without purification.

8-Methoxy-2-N-phenylimino-2H-[1]-benzopyran-3-carbonitrile (5a)

Yield = 60%. Yellowish powder, mp = 174˚C - 176˚C. IR (cm−1): ν = 1650 (C=N), 2227 (C≡N); 1H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ: 3.81 (s, 3H, OCH3), 7.22 (m, 4H, H5, H6, H7, H4’), 7.38 (d, 3J = 3 Hz, 4H, H2’, H3’), 8.40 (s, 1H, H4); 13C NMR (75 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ: 56.5 (OCH3), 105.7 (C3), 115.0 (C≡N), 117.2 (C7), 118.2 (C10), 120.5 (C5), 123.7 (C2’), 124.7 (C4’), 124.9 (C6), 128.6 (C3’), 142.3 (C9), 144.1 (C1’), 144.7 (C8), 146.4 (C2), 146.5 (C4). HRMS, m/z: 299.0792 found (calculated for C17H12N2O2Na [M + Na]+ requires 299.0792). Anal. Calcd for C17H12N2O2: C, 73.90; H, 4.38; N, 10.14. Found C, 73.92; H, 4.40; N, 10.15.

8-Methoxy-2-(4-methoxy-phenylimino)-2H-[1]-benzopyran-3-carbonitrile (5b)

Yield = 70%. Reddish powder, mp = 180˚C - 182˚C. IR (cm−1): ν = 1650 (C=N), 2227 (C≡N); 1H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ: 3.79 (s, 3H, H4’’), 3.89 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.95 (d, 3J = 9 Hz, 2H, H3’), 7.15 (d, 3J = 9 Hz, 1H, H7), 7.23 (t, 3J = 9 Hz, 1H, H6), 7.31 (d, 3J = 9 Hz, 1H, H5), 7.51 (d, 3J = 9 Hz, 2H, H2’), 8.32 (s, 1H, H4); 13C NMR (75 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ: 55.2 (C4’’), 56.5 (OCH3), 106.2 (C3), 113.8 (C3’), 115.1 (C≡N), 116.8 (C7), 118.2 (C10), 120.3 (C5), 124.9 (C6), 126.1 (C2’), 136.7 (C1’), 142.3 (C9), 143.4 (C8), 145.4 (C2), 146.4 (C4), 156.9 (C4’). HRMS, m/z: 329.0899 found (calculated for C18H14N2O3Na [M + Na]+ requires 329.0897). Anal. Calcd for C18H14N2O3: C, 70.58; H, 4.61; N, 9.15. Found C, 70.60; H, 4.62; N, 9.15.

2-N-Phenylimino-3H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyran-2-carbonitrile (5c)

Yield = 55%. Yellowish powder, mp = 196˚C - 198˚C. IR (cm−1): ν = 1662 (C=N), 2229 (C≡N); 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 7.20 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H4), 7.23 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H8), 7.34 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 2H, H2’), 7.41 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 2H, H3’), 7.59 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5’’/6’’), 7.74 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5’’/6’’), 7.90 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H6’), 8.00 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H7), 8.14 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5’), 8.55 (s, 1H, H4); 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 106.2 (C3), 111.7 (C≡N), 115.1 (C8), 116.3 (C10), 121.0 (C5’), 123.1 (C2’), 124.9 (C6’’), 126.4 (C5’’), 128.8 (C4’), 128.8 (C3’), 129.2 (C4), 129.3 (C7), 130.3 (C6’), 135.3(C6), 140.4 (C5), 144.6 (C1’), 144.8 (C2), 153.8 (C9). HRMS, m/z: 319.0840 found (calculated for C26H12N2ONa [M + Na]+ requires 319.0842). Anal. Calcd for C20H12N2O: C, 81.07; H, 4.08; N, 9.45. Found C, 81.08; H, 4.08; N, 9.44.

2-(4-Methoxyphenylimino)-3H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyran-2-carbonitrile (5d)

Yield = 80%. Reddish powder, mp = 232˚C - 234˚C. IR (cm−1): ν = 1650 (C=N), 2229 (C≡N); 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 3.87 (s, 3H, H4’’), 6.95 (d, 3J = 9 Hz, 2H, H3’), 7.31 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H8), 7.44 (d, 3J = 9 Hz, 2H, H2’), 7.58 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5’’/6’’), 7.72 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5’’/6’’), 7.90 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H6’), 8.00 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H7), 8.12 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5’), 8.47 (s, 1H, H4); 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 55.5 (C4’’), 106.8 (C3), 111.7 (C≡N), 113.9 (C3’), 115.2 (C8), 116.3 (C10), 121.0 (C5’), 125.4 (C2’), 126.4 (C6’’), 128.8 (C5’’), 129.1 (C4), 129.1 (C7), 130.3 (C6’), 135.1 (C5), 137.4 (C1’), 139.4 (C6), 143.7 (C2), 153.8 (C9), 157.2 (C4’). HRMS, m/z: 349.0947 found (calculated for C21H14N2O2Na [M + Na]+ requires 349.0948). Anal. Calcd for C21H14N2O2: C, 77.29; H, 4.32; N, 8.58. Found C, 77.31; H, 4.33; N, 8.57.

Standard procedure for the synthesis of 2-N-phenylamino-4H-chromene- 3-carbonitrile 6(a-d) by reduction of 2-N-phenylimino-2H-[1]-benzopyran-3- carbonitrile 5(a-d).

In a 50 ml round-bottomed flask, provided with a magnetic stirrer and condenser, containing a suspension of 2-phenylimino-2H-[1]-benzopyran-3-carbonitrile 5 (12 mmol.) in 12 ml of dry THF cooled at 0˚C was added small portions of commercial sodium borohydride (227 mg, 6 mmol.). The resulting reaction mixture was stirred vigorously (500 rpm) at 0˚C during 45 minutes. After stirring, the mixture was poured in 10 ml of deionized water at room temperature without stirring to improve decantation and precipitation. The resulting precipitate was collected by filtration on a Büchner funnel (porosity N˚4) and washed with deionized water (3 × 10 ml). Recrystallization of the desired 2-phenylamino- 4H-[1]-chromene-3-carbonitrile 6 was realized from a mixture of deionized water/ethanol, then dried under high vacuum (10−2 Torr) at 25˚C for 1 hour and afforded 6 as a powder.

8-Methoxy-2-N-phenylamino-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile (6a)

Yield = 81%. Yellowish powder, mp = 122˚C - 124˚C.; IR (cm−1): ν = 2195 (C≡N), 3320 (NH); 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 3.64 (s, 2H, H4), 3.89 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.61 (br s, 1H, NH), 6.78 (dd, 3J = 6 Hz, 2H, H3’), 7.08 (m, 2H, H4’, H7), 7.34 (m, 4H, H5’, H6, H2’). 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 24.6 (C4), 56.2 (OCH3), 56.8 (C3), 110.7 (C7), 119.8 (C≡N), 119.9 (C2’), 120.1 (C4’), 120.6 (C5), 123.4 (C10), 125.0 (C6), 129.1 (C3’), 138.1 (C1’), 139.1 (C9), 148.1 (C2), 157.8 (C8). HRMS, m/z: 301.0948 found (calculated for C17H14N2O2Na [M + Na]+ requires 301.0947). Anal. Calcd for C17H14N2O2: C, 73.37; H, 5.07; N, 10.07. Found C, 73.35; H, 5.10; N, 10.09.

8-Methoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenylamino)-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile (6b)

Yield = 89%. Yellowish powder, mp = 148˚C - 150˚C; IR (cm−1): ν = 2191 (CN), 3232 (NH); 1H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ: 3.54 (s, 2H, H4), 3.77 (s, 3H, H4’’), 3.79 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.78 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H7), 6.86 (d, 3J = 9 Hz, 2H, H2’), 6.97 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5), 7.09 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H6), 7.15 (d, 3J = 9 Hz, 1H, H3’), 9.16 (br s, 1H, NH). 13C NMR (75 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ: 25.3 (C4), 55.7 (C4’’), 56.5 (OCH3), 56.9 (C3), 111.6 (C7), 114.4 (C3’), 120.1 (C≡N), 120.3 (C5), 121.9 (C10), 122.2 (C2’), 125.3 (C6), 132.6 (C1’), 139.2 (C9), 148.1 (C2), 155.5 (C8), 157.9 (C4’). HRMS, m/z: 331.1056 found (calculated for C18H16N2O3Na [M + Na]+ requires 331.1053). Anal. Calcd for C18H16N2O3: C, 70.12; H, 5.23; N, 9.09. Found C, 70.14; H, 5.22; N, 9.11.

2-N-Phenylamino-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (6c)

Yield = 84%. Yellowish powder, mp = 188˚C - 190˚C. IR (cm−1): ν = 2193 (C≡N), 3278 (NH); 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 3.98 (s, 2H, H4), 6.66 (br s, 1H, NH), 7.17 (m, 2H, H8, H4’), 7.23 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 2H, H2’), 7.40 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 2H, H3’), 7.53 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5’’/6’’), 7.64 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5’’/6’’), 7.78 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 2H, H7, H6’), 7.87 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5’). 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 22.5 (C4), 57.66 (C3), 111.7 (C8), 116.8 (C10), 120.3 (C≡N), 121.0 (C2’), 122.7 (C7), 124.1 (C5’), 125.4 (C4’), 127.4 (C6’’), 128.5 (C5’’), 128.9 (C6’), 130.9 (C5), 131.1 (C6), 137.7 (C1’), 146.4 (C2), 157.2 (C9). HRMS, m/z: 321.0998 found (calculated for C20H14N2ONa [M + Na]+ requires 321.09983). Anal. Calcd for C20H14N2O: C, 80.52; H, 4.73; N, 9.39. Found C, 80.56; H, 4.71; N, 9.38.

2-(4-Methoxyphenylamino)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (6d)

Yield = 85%. Yellowish powder, mp = 200˚C - 202˚C; IR (cm−1): ν = 2189 (C≡N), 3235 (NH); 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 3.86 (s, 3H, H4’’), 3.96 (s, 2H, C4), 6.51 (br s, 1H, NH), 6.94 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 2H, H2’), 7.11 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 2H, H8), 7.18 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 2H, H3’), 7.52 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5’’/6’’), 7.63 (t, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5’’/6’’), 7.77 (dd, 3J = 6 Hz, 2H, H7, H6’), 7.86 (d, 3J = 6 Hz, 1H, H5’); 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 22.4 (C4), 55.5 (C4’’), 111.9 (C3), 114.4 (C3’), 116.8 (C8), 120.6 (C10), 122.7 (CN), 124.1 (C2’), 125.3 (C7), 127.3 (C5’), 128.5 (C6’’), 128.8 (C5’’), 130.3 (C6’), 130.9 (C5), 131.2 (C6), 146.4 (C2), 156.9 (C9), 157.8 (C4’). HRMS, m/z: 351.1105 found (calculated for C21H16N2O2Na [M + Na]+ requires 351.1104). Anal. Calcd for C21H16N2O2: C, 76.81; H, 4.91; N, 8.53. Found C, 76.79; H, 4.90; N, 8.52.

4.2. Biochemistry4.2.1. Protein Kinase Preparations and Assays

Kinase activities were assayed in:

· in buffer (A): 10 mM MgCl2, 1 mM EGTA, 1 mM DTT, 25 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 50 µg/ml heparin

· or in buffer (B): 60 mM β-glycerophosphate, 30 mM p-nitrophenyl-phosphate, 25 mM MOPS (pH 7), 5 mM EGTA, 15 mM MgCl2, 1 mM DTT, 0.1 mM sodium orthovanadate

· or in buffer (C): MOPS 25 mM pH 7.5, 10 mM MgCl2

with their corresponding substrate in the presence of 15 µM [γ-33P] ATP (3000 Ci/mmol; 10 mCi/ml) in a final volume of 30 µl following the assay described in [31]. Controls were performed with appropriate dilutions of dimethylsulfoxid. Full-length kinases are used unless specified. Peptide substrates were obtained from Proteogenix (Oberhausbergen, France)

· HsCDK5/p25 (human, recombinant, expressed in bacteria) was assayed in buffer B, with 0.8 µg/µl of histone H1 as substrate;

· HsCDK5/p25 (human, recombinant, expressed in bacteria) was assayed in buffer B, with 0.8 µg/µl of histone H1 as substrate;

· SscCK1ε (casein kinase 1ε, porcine brain, native, affinity purified) was assayed in buffer B, with 0.022 µg/µl of the following peptide: RRKHAAIGSpAYSITA as CK1-specific substrate;

· SscGSK-3β (glycogen synthase kinase-3, porcine brain, native, affinity purified) was assayed in buffer A (+0.15 mg/ml of BSA + 0.23 mg/ml of DTT), with 0.010 µg/µl of GS-1 peptide, a GSK-3-selective substrate (YRRAAVPPSPSLSRHSSPHQSpEDEEE, “Sp” stands for phosphorylated serine);

· HsHaspin-kd (human, kinase domain, amino acids 470 to 798, recombinant, expressed in bacteria) was assayed in buffer C with 0.007 µg/µl of Histone H3 (1-21) peptide (ARTKQTARKSTGGKAPRKQLA) as substrate;

· HsPIM1 (human proto-oncogene, recombinant, expressed in bacteria) was assayed in buffer B with 0.8 µg/µl of histone H1 (Sigma #H5505) as substrate;

· MmCLK1 (from Mus musculus, recombinant, expressed in bacteria) was assayed in buffer A (+0.15 mg/ml of BSA + 0.23 mg/ml of DTT) with 0.027 μg/µl of the following peptide: GRSRSRSRSRSR as substrate;

· RnDYRK1A-kd (Rattus norvegicus, amino acids 1 to 499 including the kinase domain, recombinant, expressed in bacteria, DNA vector kindly provided by Dr. W. Becker, Aachen, Germany) was assayed in buffer A (+0.5 mg/ml of BSA + 0.23 mg/ml of DTT) with 0.033 μg/µl of the following peptide: KKISGRLSPIMTEQ as substrate.

4.2.2. Cell Culture and Survival Assays

Huh-7D12 (differential hepatocellular carcinoma, Ref ECACC: 01042712), Caco2 (differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma, Ref ECACC: 86010202), MDA-MB-231 (breast carcinoma, Ref ECACC: 92020424), HCT-116 (actively proliferating colorectal adenocarcinoma, Ref ECACC: 91091005), PC3 (prostate carcinoma, Ref ECACC: 90112714), NCI-H727 (lung carcinoma, Ref ECACC: 94060303) cell lines were obtained from the ECACC collection and HaCaT (keratinocyte from Cell Lines Service, Eppelheim, Germany). Cells were grown according to ECACC recommendations [32]. The toxicity test of the compounds on these cells was as follows: 2 × 103 cells for HCT-116 cells or 4 × 103 for the other cells were seeded in 96 multi well plates in triplicate and left for 24 h for attachment, spreading and growing. Then, cells were exposed for 48 h to increasing concentrations of the compounds, ranging from 0.1 to 25 mM in a final volume of 120 ml of culture medium. Cells were fixed in cooled ethanol-acetic acid solution (95:5), nuclei were stained with Hoechst 3342 (Sigma) and counted using automated imaging analysis (Cellomics Arrayscan VTI/HCS Reader, Thermo/Scientific).

Acknowledgements

One of us (A.B.) wishes to thank the “Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche de Tunisie” for the grant. Financial support of this program carried out under the “Cancéropôle Grand Ouest” in “Molécules Marines, Métabolisme et Cancer” network, is gratefully acknowledged. The authors are grateful to the assistance of the staff of the CRMPO analytical chemistry core facility for HRMS and centesimal analysis (CRMPO platform ScanMAT UMS 2001 CNRS, Université de Rennes 1, Bat. 11A, Campus de Beaulieu, Rennes, France).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Cite this paper

Bouattour, A., Fakhfakh, M., Abid, S., Paquin, L., Guével, R.L., Charlier, T., Ruchaud, S., Bach, S., Bazureau, J.-P. and Ammar, H. (2020) Synthesis of New 2-Phenylamino-4H-chromene- 3-carbonitrile Derivatives and Their Effects on Tumor Cell Lines and against Protein Kinases. International Journal of Organic Chemistry, 10, 88-103. https://doi.org/10.4236/ijoc.2020.102006

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