5-Styrylisoxazoles: -Conjugated System with Fluorescent Properties and Bioactivity

A simple two-step protocol for the synthesis of 3-aryl/hetaryl-4-nitro-5-styrylisoxazole was elaborated. A large series of novel 5-styrylisoxazoles (36 compounds) containing various substituents at positions 3 and 5 of isoxazole cycle was obtained. The title compounds revealed fluorescent properties in visible region, possessing emission maximum up to 610nm. The effect of solvatochromism and chemosensor properties towards a number of metal cations were demonstrated. Cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 (breast carcinoma), HCT-116 (colon carcinoma), A549 (pulmonary carcinoma) and WI38 (fibroblasts from lung tissue) cell lines was tested and toxicity in the concentration range of 10-100 mu M was found for several compounds.