Development of anticancer and antidiabetic polyhydroquinoline derivatives by solvent-free heterocyclization

Abstract

Herein we have developed a heterogeneous catalyst for synthesizing various anticancer and antidiabetic polyhydroquinoline derivatives via heterocyclic synthesis under solvent-free conditions at mild temperatures. This approach eliminates the need for complex cleanup or column chromatography, thus minimizing waste production. Moreover, the catalyst can be recovered and reused up to multiple times without compromising product yields, demonstrating its sustainability and environmental friendliness. Additionally, we evaluated each synthetic derivative for anticancer and antidiabetic activities. Initial assays revealed that certain derivatives exhibit promising inhibition against human breast cancer cells, suggesting their potential as lead structures for future anticancer agents. Furthermore, the synthesized derivatives were assessed for antidiabetic activity, showing superior efficacy. Notably, derivatives containing –H, –CH₃, and –OCH₃ substituents demonstrated excellent anticancer activity, while derivatives containing –H and –Br substituents showed notable antidiabetic activities, highlighting their therapeutic potential. Thus, our study presents an effective and sustainable approach for synthesizing polyhydroquinoline derivatives, emphasizing the catalyst's dual benefits in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry applications.