Design, Synthesis, Cytotoxicity and Docking Evaluation of Novel α-Aminophosphonates Quinoline Thiohydrazineyl Derivatives

A one-pot Kabachnik-Fields reaction is used in the presence of magnesium triflate [Mg(OTf)2] as a catalyst between quinoline, diethyl phosphite (DEP), and substituted aldehydes to synthesize quinoline thioacetohydrazide alpha-aminophosphonates (5 a-f). Analytical and spectroscopic techniques identify the novel compounds. The cytotoxicity properties of the synthesized compounds were examined against HepG2 and MCF7 human cancer cells using the MTT assay. Some of the synthesized compounds exhibit potent anticancer activities. Compounds 5 e and 5 b exhibited the most promising activity against MCF7 human cancer cells, while compounds 5 c and 5 e were potent against HepG2 human cancer cells. Molecular docking experiments on the active compounds showed ring-stacking interactions between compounds 5 b, 5 c, and 5 e with other proteins, which are compatible with other results.