https://doi.org/10.15255/KUI.2007.027
Published: Kem. Ind. 56 (5) (2007) 257–273
Paper reference number: KUI-27/2007
Paper type: Review
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Heterocyclic Aromatic Compounds and Their Antitumor Activity

G. Karminski-Zamola and K. Starčević

Abstract

This review describes the longtime scientific work of the first author on the synthesis of condensed polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds, prepared in multistep synthesis and photochemical synthesis, particularly compounds with thiophene and furan nuclei condensed with benzene or other heterocyclic nuclei like quinolone. The terminal phase of the synthesis include photochemical cyclization of the corresponding chain heterocyclic precursors. Studied was the photochemical dehydrocyclization reaction of substituted ethylenic systems, as well, as the photochemical dehydrohalogenation reaction of heteroaromatic anilides and the combination of these two photochemical reactions on one substrate. These reactions gave the polycondensed heteroaromatic systems, planar in their structrure. This fact was used later in introducing pharmacophoric groups, mostly cationic and dicationic salts of corresponding amines and amidines, which could interreact with the DNA molecule as intercalators. Most of the prepared compounds exhibited pronounced antitumor activity.

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Keywords

condensed polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds, photochemistry, intercalators, antitumor activity