Synthesis, DNA binding affinity and anticancer activity of novel 4H-benzo[g][1,2,3]triazolo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazocines

A new class of tricyclic heterocycles 4H-benzo[g][1,2,3]triazolo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazocines was synthesized through a Knoevenagel condensation/azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction cascade in one-pot operation. These eight membered ring containing heterocycles exhibited moderately high anticancer activity against four cancer cell lines; human cervix cancer cell line (HeLa), human prostate cancer cell line (DU145), human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and human breast adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line (MDA-MB-231). Our results indicate that these compounds have a weak cytotoxic effect on normal human mammary epithelial cell line (MCF-10A). Cell cycle and apoptosis assay indicate that they inhibit the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and induce apoptosis. Through the RED₁₀₀ assay, it is evident that they have potential to inhibit pBR 322 plasmid DNA cleavage by BamH1. UV-visible, fluorescence titration and viscosity studies suggested that these compounds possess DNA binding affinity.