A Novel Procedure to Synthesize 3‐Chloro‐1‐(4a,10b‐diazaphenanthrene‐2‐yl)‐4‐phenyl Azetidin‐2‐ones and Exploration of Their Anti‐Inflammatory Activity

Some new derivatives of 3‐chloro‐1‐(4a,10b‐diazaphenanthrene‐2‐yl)‐4‐phenyl azetidin‐2‐one were synthesized through the reaction of N‐{4‐phenyldiazenyl] phenyl}‐N‐phenyl methylene] amine with 4‐phenyldiazenyl] aniline. The resulting 3‐chloro‐4‐phenyl‐1‐{4‐phenyldiazenyl] phenyl} azetidin‐2‐one intermediate in benzene was irradiated in a Pyrex vessel with 350 nm UV light in a photochemical reactor to give the desired derivatives (4a–j) . Structures of the new compounds were verified on the basis of spectral and elemental methods of analyses. Nine of the prepared compounds were tested for their anti‐inflammatory effects; most of these compounds showed potent and significant results compared with indomethacin.