Synthesis, molecular docking and cytotoxicity evaluation of novel 2-(4-amino-benzosulfonyl)-5H-benzo[b]carbazole-6,11-dione derivatives as histone deacetylase (HDAC8) inhibitors

•Totally fourteen new compounds were synthesized with high percentage of yield.•Compound 1 was synthesized by greener approach by using water as solvent.•Most of the synthesized compounds exhibited good cytotoxicity.•Benzoylation of all the derivatives were completed within 30 min.

A new series of 2-(4-aminobenzosulfonyl)-5H-benzo[b]carbazole-6,11-dione derivatives, which has not been reported yet, has been synthesized from 1,4-naphthoquinone and 4-aminophenylsulfone involving an Michael addition, benzoylation and Pd catalyzed coupling. This set of compounds has been evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity specifically against human cervical cancer cell line (SiHa) and most of the synthesized compounds exhibited good cytotoxic activity. Molecular docking of all the synthesized compounds was studied; among fourteen molecules docked compound 3 was the one with the best glide and E model score of −9.06 and −73.41, respectively which is close to the glide score of SAHA (standard). In all docked molecules, the compound 7a exhibits least glide and E model score of −2.97 and −71.02 respectively.

Graphical abstractSynthesis of carbazole-6,11-diones via nucleophilic addition and difficult intra molecular cyclization reaction in the presence of palladium (II) salts.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide