Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking study of dihydropyrimidine derivatives as potential anticancer agents

A series of dihydropyrimidine analogues were prepared via one-pot Biginelli three-component condensation reaction and characterized by NMR, FT-IR, MS spectra, and element analysis. Subsequently, they were screened for in vitro anticancer effect. These analogues revealed good cytotoxic activity against three human cancer cell lines including MCF-7, HepG-2, and A549. Among these analogues, compounds 4d and 4h were the most potent against three cell lines. Cell viability assays indicated 4a and 4c had lower cytotoxicity. In vitro cytotoxicity study on all synthesized compounds demonstrated that introduction of electron withdrawing substituents on C4 position of phenyl ring of dihydropyrimidine contributed to the antiproliferative potency. Moreover, in silico molecular docking results stipulated a sign of good correlation between experimental activity and calculated binding affinity. It proved 4d and 4h as the strongest compounds. Binding modes of analogues proposed the involvement of hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds with Eg5 active site. Structure activity relationship studies indicated that incorporating electron withdrawing substituents on C4 position of phenyl ring of dihydropyrimidine are important for this biological activity.