Efficient synthesis of substituted 7-methyl-2H,5H-pyrano[4,3-b]pyran-5-ones and evaluation of their in vitro antiproliferative/cytotoxic activities

Substituted 7-methyl-2H,5H-pyrano[4,3-b]pyran-5-ones and related heterocycles 3 were synthesized through an efficient domino Knoevenagel condensation/6π-electron electrocyclization. In vitro antiproliferative/cytotoxic activity evaluation was performed with human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and revealed IC50 values ranging from 6.7 to >200 μM. The compound that was most cytotoxic to the neuroblastoma cells, that is, 2-isobutyl-3-isopropyl-7-methyl-2H,5H-pyrano[4,3-b]pyran-5-one (3a), also exhibited necrotic effects on the human IPC melanoma cells.

Graphical abstractThe title compounds were synthesized efficiently. Their in vitro antiproliferative/cytotoxic activity was evaluated with human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. IC50 values are ranging from 6.7 to >200 μM.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide