Regioselective synthesis of triazolo[3,4-e]purine derivatives and their anti-cancer activity against NCI-60 cell-lines

Introduction: Due to the vast medicinal importance of purine nucleoside, a hybrid molecule of triazole with purine ring might explode a lead molecule in the pharma sector and based on the last decade’s studies suggested that the nitrogen-rich molecules possess a wide range of medicinal importance.Aim: Due to the vast application of purine nucleoside itself in the field of cancer research, we synthesized triazolo[3,4-e]purines and screened them for their anti-cancer study against NCI-60 cell lines by the protocol used by NIH.Materials and methods: The targeted molecules, 4-chloro-5a,6-dihydro-8-substitutedphenyl-1H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-e]purine derivatives (4a-4h) were synthesized in a two-step procedure by nucleophilic substitution (SN) at C-2 chlorine followed by formation of the triazole ring by acid-catalyzed reaction in the polar protic solvent.Results: It was observed that the regioselective approach followed in C-2 chlorine replacement instead of C-6 chlorine during SN reaction. One-dose response of selected three molecules (4a, 4b, and 4c) showed that 4b (K-562: 64.47 µM & SR: 63.38 µM; mean GI50: 99.09 µM) was found to be more potent than 4a and 4c.Conclusions: We have described in this study the general synthetic method for triazolo[3,4-e]purines as an innovative class of potential anticancer agents. The dose-response curve in the sense of mean GI50 for three compounds across all 60 cell lines, 4b can be served as lead after necessary modification