Eco-friendly synthesis of novel pyrimidine derivatives as potential anticancer agents

Herein, a rapid and highly efficient method for the synthesis of a new series of pyrimidine derivatives was demonstrated. The strategy was emanated from the reaction of hydrazinyl pyrimidine derivative ( 1 ) with different electrophilic species such as ethyl acetoacetate, ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoro acetoacetate, and phenyl isothiocyanate following cyclocondensation mechanism to afford the corresponding derivatives ( 2-6 ). Furthermore, condensation of hydrazine derivative ( 1 ) with different carbonyl compounds via conventional heating and microwave irradiation conditions was employed as a source of Schiff base derivatives bearing pyrimidine moiety ( 7-12 ). The structural features of all newly synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental and spectroscopic evidences. Some of the synthesized compounds were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity. The preliminary screening results showed that most of the tested compounds have moderate cytotoxic activity against HepG2 and HCT-116 cell lines. Finally, a molecular docking study was conducted to reveal the probable interaction with the thymidylate synthase enzyme.