A novel method for the synthesis of nonsymmetrical 3,3’-(aryl/alkyl-methylene)bis-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones was developed by using the Mannich adduct of naphthoquinone and the reaction with another moiety of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. This novel method produces for the first time nonsymmetrical 3,3’-(aryl/alkyl-methylene)bis-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones. In a preliminary study, these compounds (15c, 15f and 15h) were evaluated regarding their effect over the viability of PC3 metastatic prostate cancer cell using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays at 100 µM. Three of these compounds presented relevant cytotoxic effects at 72 h posttreatment.
Keywords:
3,3’-arylmethylenes; 3,3’-alkylmethylenes; nonsymmetrical bis(2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione); lawsone; Mannich adduct; quinone methide