Synthesis of 2-Amino-IN/I′-aroylarylhydrazides, DNA Photocleavage, Molecular Docking and Cytotoxicity Studies against Melanoma CarB Cell Lines

Diacylhydrazine bridged anthranilic acids with aryl and heteroaryl domains have been synthesized as the open flexible scaffold of arylamide quinazolinones in order to investigate flexibility versus rigidity towards DNA photocleavage and sensitivity. Most of the compounds have been synthesized via the in situ formation of their anthraniloyl chloride and subsequent reaction with the desired hydrazide and were obtained as precipitates, in moderate yields. All compounds showed high UV-A light absorption and are eligible for DNA photocleavage studies under this “harmless” irradiation. Despite their reduced UV-B light absorption, a first screening indicated the necessity of a halogen at the p-position in relation to the amine group and the lack of an electron-withdrawing group on the aryl group. These characteristics, in general, remained under UV-A light, rendering these compounds as a novel class of UV-A-triggered DNA photocleavers. The best photocleaver, the compound 9, was active at concentrations as low as 2 μΜ. The 5-Nitro-anthranilic derivatives were inactive, giving the opposite results to their related rigid quinazolinones. Molecular docking studies with DNA showed possible interaction sites, whereas cytotoxicity experiments indicated the iodo derivative 17 as a potent cytotoxic agent and the compound 9 as a slight phototoxic compound.