A new class of pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines: synthesis, anticancer and antimicrobial activities

A series of 3-chloro-1-aryl-4-dihydro-2H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinoxalin-2-ones and 3-chloro-1-aryl-6,7-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrolo[2,3-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.