Regioselective synthesis of fused ring heterocyclic derivatives of ketene aminals and their biological activities

A regioselective and convenient methodology was developed to synthesize heterocyclic derivatives, bearing imidazole, piperidines, and azepines rings. The N-arylnitrones derived from 3-formylchromones were selected to react with heterocyclic ketene aminal to furnish the structurally attractive and pharmacologically important fused ring heterocycles. The N-arylnitrone moiety of 3-formylchromone was used to activate the formyl group for regioselective fused ring heterocycles synthesis, whereas, the effect of substituents at aryl functionality of nitrones were studied to improve the yield of target fused ring heterocyclic products. The synthesized compounds (10-12) were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic and antifungal influences. In cytotoxic (brine shrimp lethality) assay, compound 11e was found to be active with LD₅₀ = 4.1 × 10⁻⁶ μg/mL.