Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine Derivatives as Novel Apoptotic Agents for Human Lung Cancer Cells

Novel pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized starting from 2-amino-5-aryl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitriles, and their structures were elucidated by spectral data (IR, NMR, MS) and elemental analyses. Representative compounds were evaluated for their in vitro apoptotic activities against human lung cancer using doxorubicin as a reference drug. The antiproliferative effect of these compounds was measured by the MTT assay on human lung adenocarcinoma (A549). Five compounds exhibited excellent anticancer activity against human lung cancer cell line with IC50 values of 96.5, 99.79, 102.55, 109.24, and 111.33 mu g/mL.