Reactivity of 2-((3-Cyano-4-(4-Fluorophenyl)-6-(Naphthalen-2-yl)Pyridin-2-yl)Oxy)Acetohydrazide Toward Some Reagents for Preparing a Promising Anticancer Agents and Molecular Docking Study

Abstract

This study aims to synthesize a novel series of nicotinonitriles incorporating pyrazole, oxadiazole, isoindoline, thiadiazole, and thiazolidinone moieties (compounds 4–11). The synthesis utilizes 2-((3-cyano-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-(naphthalen-2-yl)pyridin-2-yloxy)acetohydrazide (3) as a key starting material to enhance potential anticancer activity. The molecular structures of compounds 4–11 were elucidated using various spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis. The synthesized compounds were screened for cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines, including MCF-7 (human Caucasian breast adenocarcinoma), MDA-MB-231 (breast ductal carcinoma), and PC-3 (prostate cancer), using an MTT assay with doxorubicin as a reference drug. Among the tested compounds, 4, 6b, and 7 exhibited the most promising cytotoxic activity, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 22.5 to 91.3 µM. The safety profile of these compounds was further evaluated using noncancerous human skin fibroblast cells (BJ-1). Notably, 6b and 7 demonstrated high selectivity indices (SI > 3) against cancer cells, indicating preferential cytotoxicity, whereas compound 4 lacked selectivity. Docking studies, consistent with experimental data, further supported the potential anticancer properties of compounds 4, 6b, and 7. Given their significant inhibitory effects on cancer cell lines with minimal to no impact on normal cells, compounds 6b and 7 are strong candidates for further drug development as potential anticancer agents.