Microwave assisted synthesis of pyrido[2,3-a]carbazoles; investigation of in vitro DNA binding/cleavage, antioxidant and cytotoxicity studies

•The pyrido[2,3-a]carbazoles were synthesized by p-TsOH catalyzed microwave reaction.•The structure of all the compounds was established by spectroscopic method.•The compounds interact with CT-DNA, intercalatively.•The compounds possess significant antioxidant property against DPPH radical.•The compound 3e shows higher IC50 value than the other compounds against tumor cell.

We have developed an effective microwave assisted p-TsOH catalyzed synthesis of pyrido[2,3-a]carbazoles via a one pot reaction of ethanolamine and 1-chloro-2-formyl carbazoles. The structure has been characterized by spectroscopic methods. The electronic spectroscopic experimental evidence strongly showed that the compounds could interact with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) through intercalation with a binding constant value of 1.2–3.0 × 104 M−1. All the compounds showed weak to moderate capacity of scavenging with DPPH. The cytotoxicity has been evaluated by MTT assay against MCF-7 cell line and compared with standard drug cisplatin.

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