Microwave-assisted synthesis of new 2-aryl and 2-alkylimidazolones and evaluation of their in vitro anticancer activity and their in vivo toxicity on zebrafish embryos

Herein we describe the synthesis of five new 2-aryl and 2-alkylimidazolone derivatives via an effective one-pot synthetic strategy assisted by microwave irradiations which allowed us to access desired product in a reduced time reaction compared thermal heating slightly better yield (48% 45%). The imidazolone were evaluated for their anticancer activity vitro against MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 HepG2 cell lines. results showed good cytotoxic effects some these on both MCF-7 lines range 5.7–11.3 µM. Among synthesized derivatives, 2ab 2b strongest with IC50 values 7 5.7 µM (MCF-7) 6.2 8.6 (HepG2), respectively. activities moderate those doxorubicin. However, this higher toxicity vivo development zebrafish embryos than imidazolones. These at high concentrations exhibited morphological abnormalities embryos.