Synthesis, cytotoxic activity, and fluorescence properties of a set of novel 3-hydroxyquinolin-4(1H)-ones

The targeted solid-phase synthesis of 3-hydroxyquinolin-4(1H)-one derivatives is described. Primary and secondary amines, 3-amino-4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoic acid and 2-bromo-1-(4-chloro-3-nitrophenyl)ethanone were used as starting materials. The structures of the final compounds were designed in accordance with previous information obtained from structure–activity relationship studies of similar cytotoxic derivatives. Representative prepared compounds were subjected to in vitro screening of cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines; the results obtained are discussed. Fluorescence properties of selected compounds were also studied to compare the data with those obtained in analogous derivatives.