Synthesis, cytotoxic activity, and fluorescence properties of a set of novel 3-hydroxyquinolin-4(1H)-ones

The targeted solid-phase synthesis of 3-hydroxyquinolin-4(1H)-one derivatives is described. Primary and secondary amines, 3-amino-4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoic acid and 2-bromo-1-(4-chloro-3-nitrophenyl)ethanone were used as starting materials. The structures of the final compounds were designed in accordance with previous information obtained from structure-activity relationship studies of similar cytotoxic derivatives. Representative prepared compounds were subjected to in vitro screening of cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines; the results obtained are discussed. Fluorescence properties of selected compounds were also studied to compare the data with those obtained in analogous derivatives.