Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl] carboxamidederivatives of benzofuro[2,3-b]quinoline, 6H-quinindoline, indeno[2,1-b] quinoline and [1] benzothieno[2,3-b] quinoline

The acid precursors of the title compounds were prepared from methyl 2-amin o-3-formylbenzoate (3), by Friedlander synthesis with o-methoxy- and o-nitr o-phenylacetic acids, phenylpyruvic acid and benzo[b]thiophen-2-one, respec tively. Except for the last example, cyclization of an initial 3-arylquinol ine derivative was then required to give the tetracycle. Growth inhibition properties of the carboxamides in a series of cancer cell lines were measur ed for comparison with previous data for an isomeric series. In all cases, the present set were found to be less active.