Analytical-grade chemicals were utilized in this research. A 200–300 mesh silica gel was utilized for column chromatography. The NMR experiments and spectra were conducted using BrükerAvance 400 or 500 instruments, and the calibration was performed by utilizing residual undeuterated solvent (internal reference). The coupling constants were given in hertz (Hz), whereas the chemical shifts were recorded in parts per million (ppm) units. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analyses were conducted using an Agilent Technologies 6520B Accurate-Mass Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Q-TOF LC/MS) instrument. The reaction's progression was observed using thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The column chromatography experiment involved the utilization of silica gel (60–120 mesh size). The abbreviations employed to denote the multiplicities were as follows: "s" for singlet, "d" for doublet, "t" for triplet, "q" for quartet, and "m" for multiplet.
General procedure for synthesis of 2-Cyano-3-2-nitrophenyl-ethyl acrylate (3) and 2-aminoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (4) according to previous article [37].
General procedure for synthesis of compounds 1a-1d
Compound 4 (0.01 mol) in benzene (10 mL) was added thionyl chloride (0.05 mol) dropwise at 0 ℃. The reaction mixture was refluxed for 2 h and was then evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The crude sulfinamide anhydride obtained was dissolved in DCM (10 mL), followed by the addition of isatins 6a-6d (0.01 mol), Et3N (0.05 mol). The reaction mixture was refluxed for 1 h and then cooled to room temperature with an ice bath. The precipitate was filtered and the residue was purified by flash-column chromatography on silica gel to provide 1a-1c as yellow soild.
Indolo[2,1-b] pyrimidine[4,5-b] quinolin-7,13-dione (1a)
Yellow solid, yield 51%. m.p. >300 ℃, IR (KBr):3055, 3031, 1729, 1678, 1586, 1459, 1356, 1305, 1213, 766,750cm− 1;1HNMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 9.51 (s, 1H), 8.50 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.40 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 1H), 8.04 (t, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.93 (dd, J = 16.8, 7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.81 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (t, J = 7.5 Hz, 1H) ppm; 13CNMR (125 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 182.5, 158.3, 158.1, 154.8, 150.5, 148.3, 146.0, 139.2, 138.1, 133.6, 129.7, 129.0, 128.3, 127.0, 125.0, 122.2, 117.3, 116.8 ppm; HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C18H10N3O2[M + H]+300.0768, found 300.0761.
9-fluoroindolo[2,1-b]pyrimidine[4,5-b]quinolin-7,13-dione (1b)
Yellow solid, yield 45%.m.p. >300℃; IR (KBr): 3084, 3049, 1731, 1695, 1592, 1476, 1352, 1252, 1206, 875, 831, 764 cm− 1; 1HNMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 9.52 (s, 1H), 8.51 (dd, J = 8.8, 4.1 Hz, 1H), 8.40 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 1H), 8.22 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 1H), 8.05 (t, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.87 (dd, J = 7.0, 2.6 Hz, 1H), 7.85–7.74 (m, 2H) ppm; 13CNMR (125 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 181.6, 158.3, 154.6, 150.5, 142.3, 139.2, 133.6, 129.8, 129.1, 128.4, 127.0, 124.4, 124.2, 118.7, 118.6, 117.2, 111.9, 111.7 ppm; HRMS(ESI)calcd for C18H8FN3NaO2 [M + Na]+ : 340.0493, found 340.0490; HRMS(ESI)calcd for C18H9FN3O2 [M + H]+ : 318.0673, found 318.0662.
9-fluoro-10-chloroindolo[2,1-b]pyrimidine[4,5-b]quinolin-7,13-dione; (1c')
Yellow solid, yield 25%. m.p. >300℃; 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 9.54 (s, 1H), 8.61 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 1H), 8.49 (dd, J = 8.8, 3.8 Hz, 1H), 8.44–8.36 (m, 1H), 8.26–8.20 (m, 1H), 8.16 (d, J = 7.5 Hz, 1H), 8.10–8.03 (m, 1H), 7.95–7.91 (d, J = 8.0 Hz,, 1H), 7.89–7.78 (m, 1H) ppm. HRMS (ESI) calcd for C18H8ClFN3O2 [M + H]+:352.0284, found 352.0277.
8-chloro-9-fluoroindolo[2,1-b]pyrimidine[4,5-b]quinolin-7,13-dione (1c")
Yellow solid, yield 24%. m.p. >300℃; 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 9.54 (s, 1H), 8.49 (dd, J = 8.8, 3.8 Hz, 1H), 8.41 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 8.22 (d, J = 8.5 Hz, 1H), 8.06 (dd, J = 8.4, 6.7 Hz, 1H), 7.94 (t, J = 9.2 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (t, J = 7.5 Hz, 1H) ppm. HRMS (ESI) calcd for C18H8ClFN3O2 [M + H]+:352.0284, found 352.0284.
9-methoxyindolo[2,1-b]pyrimidine[4,5-b]quinolin-7,13-dione(1d)
Yellow solid, yield 35%. m.p. >300℃; 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 9.47 (s, 1H), 8.41–8.36 (m, 2H), 8.20 (d, J = 8.5 Hz, 1H), 8.05–8.01 (m, 1H), 7.80 (ddd, J = 8.0, 6.7, 1.1 Hz, 1H), 7.49–7.43 (m, 2H), 3.89 (s, 3H) ppm;
8-chloro-9-methylindolo[2,1-b]pyrimidine[4,5-b]quinolin-7,13-dione(1d)
Yellow solid, yield 35%. m.p. >300℃; IR (KBr): 3068, 1729, 1674, 1596, 1452, 1343, 1293, 1046, 1000, 773, 688 764 cm− 1; 1HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 9.35 (s, 1H), 8.48 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 1H), 8.34 (d, J = 8.5 Hz, 1H), 8.12 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 1H), 7.98 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.76 (d, J = 7.3 Hz, 1H), 7.67 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 1H), 2.50 (s, 3H) ppm. HRMS (ESI) calcd for C19H11ClN3O2[M + H]+: 348.0534, found 348.0531.
Cell culture. HCT116, A549, and MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium with 10% fetal calf serum (Corning), 100 U/mL streptomycin, and 100 U/mL penicillin. The cells were placed in an incubator for 24 hours at 37°C in a humidified environment with 5% (v/v) CO2.
Cell proliferation assay. A549, HCT116, and MDA-MB-231 cells at a concentration of 5×107 cells/L were added to a 96-well plate and incubated for 24 hours. The synthesized compounds were subjected to incubation at six distinct concentrations (3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 µmol/L) with the cells for 48 hours. Compounds demonstrating IC50 values below 3.125 µmol/L underwent further testing at six additional concentrations (0.31, 0.63, 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 µmol/L) to acquire more precise IC50 values. The control group was not treated with any compounds. To determine the IC50, the culture media was aspirated, and the cells were subjected to a 4-hour incubation period in the presence of 5 µM MTT. Subsequently, the MTT solution was aspirated, and 200 µL of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was added to each well. The absorbance measurement at a wavelength of 490 nm was conducted using a Spectra Max 190 spectrophotometer for each well.
In vitro scratch assay. The A549 cells were added to a 6-well plate and placed for 24 hours until confluent in an incubator. The cells were subsequently treated as mentioned in previous literature [38].
Cell cycle analysis. Flow cytometry was employed to assess the progression of the cell cycle. Compound 1a was applied to the cells for 48 hours at different doses (0, 0.11, 0.22, and 0.34 µM). The cells were then rinsed with PBS before being fixed overnight at 20°C with absolute ethanol. The post-harvest treatment protocol employed in this study was consistent with the methodology described in the relevant research [38].
Apoptosis assay. The Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) detection kit was utilized to identify the early and late stages of apoptosis located in the lower and top right corners of the flow dot plot, respectively. The manufacturer's instructions were followed when performing the experimental procedures. A549 cells were subjected to various doses (0, 0.11, 0.22, and 0.34 µM) of compound 1a for 48 hours. The post-harvest treatment protocol employed in this study was followed from a previous study [38].
Western blot analysis. Following treatment with compound 1a, the cells were collected and subjected to lysis using radioimmunoprecipitation (RIPA) lysis buffer containing phosphatase and protease inhibitors while maintaining a low temperature in an ice bath. The post-harvest treatment protocol employed in this study was consistent with the methodology described in the relevant research [38]. The study utilized primary antibodies, including BCL-2, BAX, cleaved caspase-3, ERK, phosphorylated p-ERK, JNK, p-JNK, p38, p-p38, and β-actin. The primary and secondary antibodies were diluted at 1:1000 and 1:5000, respectively.
Statistical analysis. The results presented are the mean ± standard deviation (SD) of a minimum of three separate experiments (n = 3). The statistical analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22.0 and GraphPad Prism version 8.0. The statistical analysis involved using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and applying Bonferroni's post hoc test. A statistically significant difference was defined as p < 0.05.