Synthesis of novel bioactive pyrido[2, 3-d] pyrimidine derivatives with potent cytotoxicity through apoptosis as PIM-1 kinase inhibitors†

Direct synthesis and cytotoxicity activity of new series of pyrido[2, 3-d]pyrimidine was described. Nicotinamide 2 was synthesized via cyclization of N-cyclohexyl derivative with cyanoacetamide. The oaminonicotinonitrile 2 was subjected to acylation or thio acylation process followed by intramolecular heterocyclization to afford the desired pyrido[2, 3-d]pyrimidine (3–10) and pyrido triazine 11. Compounds 4 and 11 exhibited remarkable cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 0.57 mM and 1.31 mM and IC50 values of 1.13 mM and 0.99 mM against HepG2 cells. Interestingly, compounds 4 and 10 had potent PIM-1 kinase inhibition with IC50 values of 11.4 and 17.2 nM, respectively, with inhibition of 97.8% and 94.6% compared to staurosporine (IC50 = 16.7 nM, with 95.6% inhibition). Moreover, compound 4 significantly activated apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, increasing the cell apoptosis by 58.29-fold by having 36.14% total apoptosis in treated cells compared to 0.62% for control. Moreover, it arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase. PIM-1 kinase inhibition was virtually elucidated by the molecular docking study, highlighting binding interactions of the lead compound 4 towards the PIM-1 protein. Accordingly, compound 4 was validated as a promising PIM-1 targeted chemotherapeutic agent to treat breast cancer. © 2024 The Author(s).