Design, Synthesis, and In Vitro Evaluation of Benzofuro[3,2- c ]Quinoline Derivatives as Potential Antileukemia Agents

Herein, we design and synthesize an array of benzofuro[3,2- ]quinolines starting from 3-(2-methoxyphenyl)quinolin-4(1 )ones via a sequential chlorination/demethylation, intramolecular cyclization pathway. This sequential transformation was efficient, conducted under metal-free and mild reaction conditions, and yielded corresponding benzofuro[3,2- ]quinolines in high yields. In vitro biological evaluation indicated that such type of compounds showed excellent antileukemia activity and selectivity, and therefore may offer a promising hit compound for developing antileukemia compounds.