Synthesis and biological activity of novel bifunctional isoxazolidinyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

This paper reports the synthesis and the biological properties of two novel pyrene-bearing isoxazolidinyl derivatives able to exhibit antitumor activity by DNA intercalation. The synthetic approach exploits a consolidated protocol based on 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The intercalating properties have been determined by combining electrophoresis studies with molecular docking, while the antitumor activity has been evaluated over five carcinoma cell lines. The obtained compounds show also a good affinity towards silver cations; the presence of a 2-hydroxybenzyl appendage on the isoxazolidine ring ensures a good affinity and selectivity in the binding. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.