A new class of pyrrolo2,3-bquinoxalines: synthesis, anticancer and antimicrobial activities

Abstract A series of 3-chloro-1-aryl-4-dihydro-2 H -pyrrolo2,3- b quinoxalin-2-ones and 3-chloro-1-aryl-6,7-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-2 H -pyrrolo2,3- b quinoxalin-2-ones was prepared by the condensation of o -phenylenediamine or 4,5-dimethyl-1,2-aminobenzene with N -aryl-3,4-dichloro-maleimides. All the prepared quinoxalines were tested for their antitumor activity against three human cancer cell lines (prostate cells PC3, colorectal cells Caco-2, and cervical cells HeLa), and a mammalian cell line (Vero cells). The compounds were also tested for their antibacterial properties against three different bacterial cells Escherichia coli , Bacillus spizizenii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The compounds 3c , 3d , 3g , 3h , 3i and 4a , 4b , 4h showed anti-proliferative activity against the tested cell lines. Regarding their antibacterial activity, compounds 3a , 3g , 4a , and 4h showed inhibitory activity against E. coli , and B. spizizenii only.