Synthesis of pyrimido[1,2‐a]benzimidazol‐4(10H)‐one derivatives and evaluation of their interactions with DNA

The synthesis of new derivatives of the planar tricyclic pyrimido[1,2‐a]benzimidazole system featuring protonable side chains in the 3 and/or 10 positions is described. The reported literature procedures for the preparation of the intermediate 3‐ethoxycarbonylpyrimido[1,2‐a]benzimidazol‐4(10H)‐one 15, starting from 2‐aminobenzimidazole 18 and diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate, were revised. The interaction with DNA, the intrinsic binding constants, and the antiproliferative activity of a number of compounds (1–8, 10, 11) were preliminarly investigated.