Synthesis and in vitro anticancer evaluation of novel pyridine derivatives bearing tetrahydronaphthalene scaffold

A new series of tetralin-pyridine hybrids was synthesized in good yields starting from 2-(pyridin-2yl)oxy)acetohydrazide as a synthon. The treatment of this acid hydrazide with six different aromatic aldehydes resulted in the formation of the corresponding arylidenehydrazides as cis/trans conformers, which upon treatment with thioglycolic acid afforded 4-thiazolidinone derivatives. The acid hydrazide synthon also reacted with a variety of activated reagents to give the corresponding tetralin-pyridine derivatives in good yields. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the new compounds were tested showing that these compounds appeared as promising active anti-cancer compounds.