Synthesis of novel 1.10-phenanthrolins and cyclic analogs, a potential anticancer and antimalarial agents

Abstract: The potential antimalarial and anticancer effect of molecules containing 1,10-phenanthroline skeleton has been suspected on several previous studies. It is why the goal of this project is to synthesize novel 1,10-phenanthrolines and cyclic analogs. The originality of this project is the synthesis way of these novel compounds. Indeed, these structures will be obtained through an original redox approach developed in the SMITH laboratory using the tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) reagent.      The TDAE is an electron rich organic molecule which is an effective reducing agent capable of generating an anion from halogenated derivatives under mild conditions via a single electron transfer (SET). From the different substrate we will work with, the TDAE will generate an anion which will be additioned on the 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione. These different substrates will be aromatic and heterocyclic nitro-benzylic, and quinonic derivates as well as bromodifluoromethyl heteroarylated substrates. A one pot two step (reduction, dehydration) reaction will be done on these addition products, in order to obtain a cyclised product.        It is the first time we try these reactions on these kind on molecules, it is why this project needs a lot of optimization and that the yield obtained are medium or equal to zero. However, we observed that the addition reaction with TDAE worked with 4 substrates out of 6. We tried the cyclisation reaction on only one addition product and we think that after some improvement of the reaction conditions and the work-up, we will be able to obtain the product with a good yield.