A series of aryl-substituted 3-amino-1-aryl-8-methoxy-1H-benzo[f]chromene-2-carbonitriles (4a–4q) were designed and synthesized via reaction of 6-methoxy-2-naphthol with a mixture of appropriate aromatic aldehydes and malononitrile under microwave conditions. The structures of the novel compounds 4b, 4c, 4f, 4g, 4i, 4l, 4m, and 4o–4q were established according to IR,¹H-NMR,¹³C-NMR/¹³C-NMR-DEPT, and MS. The benzochromene derivative 4c with a single chlorine at the meta position of the phenyl ring and, to a lesser extent, other benzochromenes with monohalogenated phenyl ring (4a, 4c–4f) exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against six human cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231, A549, HeLa, MIA PaCa-2, 5,637, and Hep G2. The mechanisms of the cytotoxic activities of benzochromenes with monohalogenated phenyl ring (4a, 4c–4f) were further analyzed using triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Cell cycle analysis showed accumulation of the treated cells in S phase for 4a, 4d–4f, and S-G₂/M phases for 4c.In vivo, 4a and 4c–4f inhibited growth, proliferation, and triggered apoptosis in preestablished breast cancer xenografts grown on the chick chorioallantoic membranes while exhibiting low systemic toxicity. Compounds 4a and 4c–4f increased levels of mitochondrial superoxide and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential resulting in initiation of apoptosis as demonstrated by caspase 3/7 activation. In addition, 4c induced general oxidative stress in cancer cells. The SAR study confirmed that halogens of moderate size at meta or para positions of the pendant phenyl ring enhance the cytotoxic activity of 3-amino-1-aryl-8-methoxy-1H-benzo[f]chromene-2-carbonitriles, and these compounds could serve as leads for the development of novel anticancer therapies.

3-Amino-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-9-hydroxy-1H-benzo[f]chromene-2-carbonitrile (3) was used as precursor for the synthesis of novel 1H-benzo[f]chromene and 12H-benzo[f]chromeno-[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives via reaction of compounds 3 with appropriate chemical reagents. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed on the basis of spectral data, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS data. The targeted compounds were tested in-vitro for their antimicrobial activity and showed congruent results against the most tested microorganisms compared to the standard drugs Gentamycin and Ketoconazol. The structure activity relationship (SAR) study for the target compounds agreed with the in-vitro essays and confirmed higher potent antimicrobial activity against some of the tested microorganisms.

β-Enaminonitriles bearing 9-hydroxy-1H-benzo[f]chromene moiety was synthesized. The targeted compounds were evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity against three human tumor cell lines, PC-3, SKOV-3 and HeLa, and the active cytotoxic compounds were further evaluated against cancer cells, MCF-7/ADR, and two normal cell lines, HFL-1 and WI-38. Few compounds were assigned to be the most potent derivatives against PC-3, SKOV-3 and HeLa cell lines in comparison with Vinblastine and Doxorubicin. Several compounds possessed a relatively good potency against MCF-7/ADR cells as compared with Doxorubicin and were tested as a P-gp inhibitor. Moreover, the halogenated substituents, 2,4-F₂, 2,3-Cl₂, 2,5-Cl₂ and 3,4-Cl_2; have good potency against P-gp-mediated MDR in MCF-7/ADR as compared with Doxorubicin. Meanwhile, Rho123 accumulation assays revealed that few compounds effectively inhibited P-pg and efflux function. In addition, certain derivatives induced apoptosis and an accumulation of the treated MCF-7/ADR cells in the G1, S and G1/S phases.