Synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of novel 2-aryl-4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-6,7-methylendioxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines, podophyllotoxin-like molecules

Diverse 2-aryl-4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-6,7-methylendioxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines (DM series) were synthesized using three-component reaction of 3,4-methylendioxyaniline, benzaldehydes and isoeugenol. Purified and characterized tetrahydroquinoline molecules were tested in vitro for potential antitumor and cytotoxic activities. It was observed a strong relationship between selective cytotoxic activity on U937 and HeLa cells and the substitutions presented in aryl ring of position C-2 of the synthesized tetrahydroquinoline derivatives. Tested molecules, called DM108, DM116 and DM118, resulted in active compounds having a greater SI compared with colchicine and doxorubicin, reference compounds.