Design and Preparation of β‐Lactam Derivatives Bearing Phenanthrenimidazole as Cytotoxic Agents

In the present work, a novel series of monocyclic 1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole beta-lactam hybrids has been synthesized in yields varying from 70-95 % by a stereoselective [2+2]-cyclocondensation (Staudinger reaction). The newly-synthesized compounds and their imine intermediates were characterized by IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR and elemental analyses. The 1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole beta-lactam hybrids showed moderate cytotoxicity towards two mammalian cancerous cell lines, MCF-7 and A549, and to a lesser extent on immortalized normal fibroblast SV-80 cells. In addition, hemolytic activity of the Phenanthren-imidazole beta-lactam conjugates showed their potential as a medicine. None of the compounds displayed antibacterial or anti-inflammatory activity.