Synthesis, cytotoxicity, pharmacokinetic profile, binding with DNA and BSA of new imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl hybrids

Novel derivatives possessing imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine and 1H-benzo[d]imidazole scaffolds were synthesized using Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. In vitro anticancer activities against NCI-60 cancer cell panels were tested at 10 µM concentration. The best results were obtained from substitution of two 1-cyclohexyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole groups present at C-6 and C-8 positions of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine (31). Compound 31 was found to be cytotoxic against 51 cell lines and cytostatic against 8 cell lines with broad range of growth inhibitions (−98.48 to 98.86%). GI(50) value of compound 31 was found in the range of 0.80–2.87 µM for 59 human cancer cell lines at five-dose concentration levels. DNA binding study of potent compound 31 was suggested that this compound was intercalated into DNA base pairs with binding constant of 1.25 × 10(4) M(−1). Compound 31 showed effective binding with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and presented binding constant value of 3.79 ×10(4) M(-1). Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that all compounds are following Lipinski’s rule of five and expected to be orally active.