Benzopyran: A Versatile and Biologically Privileged Scaffold in Cancer Research

Benzopyran scaffolds, encompassing chromenes, coumarins, and flavonoids, are recognized as privileged heterocyclic frameworks in oncology due to their structural versatility and ability to modulate multiple cancer-related targets. This review aims to consolidate recent advances in the synthesis, structure–activity relationships (SAR), molecular mechanisms, and anticancer therapeutic applications of benzopyran derivatives. Emphasis is placed on key synthetic strategies, including Perkin, Pechmann, and Knoevenagel condensations, alongside mechanistic insights into their modulation of pathways such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling, estrogen receptor activity, topoisomerase inhibition, and tubulin polymerization. Evidence from recent studies demonstrates that both natural and synthetic benzopyran analogues exhibit significant cytotoxicity against diverse cancer types, including breast, lung, liver, cervical, and brain cancers, with several coumarin- and chromene-based hybrids showing enhanced selectivity and reduced toxicity. Emerging benzopyran–triazole and imino-substituted derivatives demonstrate significant potential for overcoming drug resistance and improving therapeutic efficacy. Overall, benzopyran derivatives represent promising lead scaffolds in anticancer drug discovery, with future research directed toward pharmacokinetic optimization, targeted molecular design, and the development of clinically translatable benzopyran-based therapeutics.