Three novel pyrazolo-[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolopyrimidine derivatives (1, 2, and 3) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro biological activity. All three compounds exhibited different levels of cytotoxicity against cervical and breast cancer cell lines. However, compound 1 showed the best antiproliferative activity against all tested tumor cell lines, including HCC1937 and HeLa cells, which express high levels of wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Western blot analyses demonstrated that compound 1 inhibited the activation of EGFR, protein kinase B (Akt), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk)1/2 in breast and cervical cancer cells at concentrations of 7 and 11 µM, respectively. The results from docking experiments with EGFR suggested the binding of compound 1 at the ATP binding site of EGFR. Furthermore, the crystal structure of compound 3 (7-(4-bromophenyl)-9-(pyridin-4-yl)-7H-pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine) was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis. Our work represents a promising starting point for the development of a new series of compounds targeting EGFR.

Triazolopyridines are a family of compounds that, owing to their biological activity, have many pharmaceutical applications. In this study, 3-(pyridine-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine and 6-bromo-3-(pyridine-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine were synthesized by using the chlorinated agent NCS for hydrazones under very mild conditions. The characterization of these compounds was achieved by 1H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FTIR, MS and X-ray diffraction. The compound 3-(pyridine-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine was crystallized in the monoclinic space group P 2₁/c with a = 15.1413(12), b = 6.9179(4), c = 13.0938(8) Å, β = 105.102(6)°, V = 1324.16(16)ų, Z = 4, and R = 0.0337. Also compound 6-bromo-3-(pyridine-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine was crystallized in the monoclinic space group P 2₁/c with a = 14.3213(11), b = 6.9452(4) (4), c = 12.6860(8)Å, β = 100.265(6)°, V = 1241.62(14)ų, Z = 4, and R = 0.0561.

Trimethyl citrate, C₉H₁₄O₇ (systematic name: trimethyl 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate), 2, was prepared by the esterification of citric acid and methanol in the presence of thionyl chloride at 273 K. The bond lengths and angles in 2 compare closely with those observed in citric acid. The C—C bonds adjacent to the terminal carboxyl groups are significantly shorter than those around the central C atom. The central carboxylate group and the hydroxy group occur in the normal planar arrangement with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0171 Å from the mean plane involving all six atoms in the central unit. The crystal structure is almost completely dominated by the formation of inversion dimers through an O—H...O hydrogen bond, together with an extensive array of weaker C—H...O contacts. These generate a three-dimensional network structure with molecules stacked along the c-axis direction.