Bernthsen synthesis, antimicrobial activities and cytotoxicity of acridine derivatives

The condensation reaction of diphenylamine with 2-oxo-2H-(substituted chromen)-4-yl acetic acid in presence of anhydrous zinc chloride afford 4-(acridine-9-ylmethyl)-2H-(substituted chromen)-2-one. The synthesized compounds were characterized by spectral studies and elemental analysis and screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pyogenes (gram (+)ve), Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram -ve) and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and anticancer activity (HL-60, Hep-2 & HEK293T) by MTT assay. Chloro substituted compounds showed antimicrobial and anticancer activity with IC50 values in the low micromolar range. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.