Synthesis and photophysical characterization of quasi push-pull dicyanodibenzodioxins and their anti-tumor activity against glioma cell line C6

Dibenzodioxins bearing multiple electron withdrawing groups were synthesized using a simple one-step methodology including examples of molecules possessing electron acceptor groups in both ends. As a consequence internal charge delocalization occurs and the optical spectra are found to be bathochromi-cally shifted compared to similar examples known thus far. A theoretical analysis of the molecular orbitals reveals the origin of the peaks in the dibenzodioxin optical spectra. Select examples exhibit in vitro neuro-cytotoxicity against glioma cell line C6, a finding which enhances existing knowledge about the pharmacologically relevant structural motifs in dibenzodioxins. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.