Synthesis of new pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives and evaluation of their activities against human colon cancer cell lines

New pyrrolo[2,3-d]Pyrimidines with heteroaryl substitution at 5th position through sulfur linker were synthesized incorporating putative pharmacophoric moieties like benzimidazole and benzothiazole as heteroaryl groups. Cytotoxic effect of all the compounds was carried out on HCT116 colon cancer cell lines. Compounds 6c and 6h with nitrobenzimidazole and pyrimidyl heterocycles attached at 5th position via sulfur were the most potent of all with IC50 values ≈17.6 μM. Among the four compounds tested for apoptosis induction activity, 6c induced apoptosis in a dose dependent manner.

Graphical abstractNew pyrrolopyrimidines were synthesized using 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine and chloroacetone as starting compounds. On evaluation nitrobenzimidazole (Ar) linked pyrrolopyrimidine exhibited significant activity against HCT116 colon cancer cell lines (IC50 = 17.6 μM) and dose dependent induction of apoptosis.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide