Synthesis, antitumor, antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial activities of benzo[4,5]canthin-6-ones bearing the N'-(Substituted benzylidene)-carbohydrazide and N-Alkylcarboxamide groups at C-2.

A series of novel benzo[4,5]canthin-6-ones, bearing the N'-(substituted benzylidene)-carbohydrazide (11a-e) and N-alkylcarboxamide (13a-g) moieties at position-2, were synthesized and screened for their in vitro antitumor activity, against seven human cancer cell lines, and for antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial activities against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis. The results indicated that N-methylpiperazyl-6-oxobenzo[4,5]canthine-2-carboxamide (13f) displayed potent antitumor activity with IC(50) values in the range of 1.15-8.46 µM for all cell lines tested. Compounds 13f and 13g bearing an N-methylpiperazylcarboxamide and N-morpholylcarboxamide at C-2, respectively, showed potent activities towards both Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis parasites, with IC(50) in the range of 0.4 to 16.70 µM.