Hybrid molecules composed of 2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazines and 2-imino-coumarins and coumarins. Synthesis and cytotoxic properties

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules23071616

A series of 2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazine compounds 5–12, which are namely hybrids of 2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazines and 2-imino-coumarins, was synthesized by reacting 2-(4,6-diamine-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)acetonitriles 1–4 with 2-hydroxybenzaldehydes. After this, upon heating in aqueous DMF, 2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazines 10 and 12 were converted into the corresponding 2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazines 13 and 14, which are essentially hybrids of 2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazines and coumarins. The in vitro anticancer activity of the newly prepared compounds was evaluated against five human cancer cell lines: DAN-G, A-427, LCLC-103H, SISO and RT-4. The greatest cytotoxic activity displayed 4-[7-(diethylamino)-2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl]-6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine (11, IC₅₀ in the range of 1.51–2.60 μM).

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules23071616

molecules
Article
Hybrid Molecules Composed of
2,4-Diamino-1,3,5-triazines and 2-Imino-Coumarins
and Coumarins. Synthesis and Cytotoxic Properties
Anna Makowska 1, Franciszek Sa˛czewski 1,*, Patrick J. Bednarski 2, Jarosław Sa˛czewski 3
and Łukasz Balewski 1
1
Department of Chemical Technology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdan´sk,
80-416 Gdan´sk, Poland; an.makow@wp.pl (A.M.); lbalewski@gumed.edu.pl (Ł.B.)
Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Greifswald,
2
L.-F.-Jahn Str., D-17489 Greifswald, Germany; bednarsk@uni-greifswald.de
Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdan´sk,
3
80-416 Gdan´sk, Poland; js@gumed.edu.pl
*
Correspondence: saczew@gumed.edu.pl; Tel.: +48-58-349-1951; Fax: +48-58-349-1654
ꢀꢁꢂꢀꢃꢄꢅꢆꢇ
ꢀꢁꢂꢃꢄꢅꢆ
Received: 31 May 2018; Accepted: 2 July 2018; Published: 3 July 2018
Abstract: A series of 2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazine compounds
5–
12, which are
namely hybrids of 2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazines and 2-imino-coumarins, was synthesized by
reacting 2-(4,6-diamine-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)acetonitriles with 2-hydroxybenzaldehydes.
After this upon heating in aqueous DMF, 2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazines 10
and 12 were converted into the corresponding 2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazines 13 and 14
1–4
,
,
which are essentially hybrids of 2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazines and coumarins. The in vitro anticancer
activity of the newly prepared compounds was evaluated against five human cancer cell
lines: DAN-G, A-427, LCLC-103H, SISO and RT-4. The greatest cytotoxic activity displayed
4-[7-(diethylamino)-2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl]-6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine
(11, IC50 in the range of 1.51–2.60 µM).
Keywords: 2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazines; 2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazines; 2,4-diamino-
1,3,5-triazines; 2-imino-coumarins; coumarins; hybrid molecules; in vitro anticancer activity
1. Introduction
It is a well-established fact that numerous medical disorders may be caused by defects in more
than one specific biological target, such as a receptor and an enzyme. These disease states cannot be
adequately addressed by the classical ‘one target, one molecule’ approach [1–3]. A promising strategy
to tackle complex multifactorial diseases involves the design of hybrid molecules as a stable chemical
combination of two drug molecules acting at different targets [4–16]. Such “dual-acting compounds”
combine two distinct chemical entities.
The 1,3,5-triazine moiety represents an extraordinary fragment in several promising classes of
compounds with an interesting pharmacological profile [17 18]. Since the 1,3,5-triazine scaffold
,
is present in anticancer drugs, such as altretamine [19], trimelamol [20] and irsogladine [21],
a considerable amount of attention has recently been paid to the 1,3,5-triazine derivatives with
anticancer activity [22
due to being potent inhibitors of telomerase activity, which is associated with cell proliferation [28
and microtubule-binding agents [28
–
26]. Thus, 1,3,5-triazines derivatives were identified as apoptosis inductors [27
]
]
–
30]. In addition, 1,3,5-triazines with a well-defined antitumor
mechanism of action include inhibitors of VEGF-R2 receptor tyrosine kinase [31], tyrosine kinase
Tie-2 (tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like and epidermal growth factor-like domains) [32],
Molecules 2018, 23, 1616; doi:10.3390/molecules23071616
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

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cyclin-dependent kinase [33] and protein kinase CK2 [34], whereas sulfonamides incorporating the
1,3,5-triazine moiety may act as effective carbonic anhydrase inhibitors [35–37].
The coumarin nucleus is a recurring motif in both natural and synthetic compounds of biological
interest [38
containing a coumarin scaffold were found to inhibit DNA gyrase in breast cancer cells [46],
while a number of coumarin derivatives act as inductors of apoptosis [47 48], protein kinase and
mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors [49 50]; inhibitors of 17 -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
with therapeutic potential in the treatment of hormone-dependent cancers [51]; and inhibitors of
several cancer-related isoforms of carbonic anhydrase [52 53]. It was further demonstrated that
coumarin-containing compounds suppress microtubule dynamics, effectively blocking cell cycle
progression and resulting in apoptosis [54 56], and inhibit angiogenesis. Thus, they represent suitable
–42], including antiproliferative and cytotoxic agents [43–45]. Thus, novobiocin analogues
,
,
β
,
–
candidates for the treatment of solid tumors [57]. It should be noted that antitumor activity also exhibit
variously substituted imino-icoumarins [58–62].
In previous studies, we have synthesized a number of 1,3,5-triazine derivatives with pronounced
in vitro antitumor properties [63–66]. Based on the ideas presented above, we reasoned that
compounds incorporating both the 1,3,5-triazine and imino-coumarin pharmacophoric groups could be
used in very effective antitumor agents as the hybridization of these two different bioactive molecules,
which may lead to a synergistic effect. In this present study, we describe new hybrid compounds
synthesized by linking 2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazinyl moiety with coumarin or 2-imino-coumarin ring
system (Figure 1).
Figure 1. General structure of the hybrid molecules composed of 2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazines and
2-imino-coumarins or coumarins.
2. Results and Discussion
2.1. Synthesis of 2-Imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazine Derivatives (Imino-Coumarin Derivatives)
2,4-Diaminotriazine derivatives
1–
4
were prepared by cyclocondensation reaction of
biguanides [66
(Scheme 1).
–
68] with ethyl cyanoacetate according to the previously described methods [64,66]

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Scheme 1. Synthesis of 2-(4,6-diamine-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)acetonitrile derivatives 1–4.
After this, the compounds bearing an active methylene group underwent a reaction
with 2-hydroxybenzaldehydes in the presence of piperidine to give the desired hybrid
2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazine compounds
5
–
12 (Scheme 2). The reactions were carried
◦
out in 98% ethanol at 20–40 C in the presence of piperidine as a basic catalyst. The best yields (49–61%)
were achieved by using 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde with electron-donating substituent, which was mainly
4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde.
1
2
1
2
Comp.
N
R
R
Comp.
N
N
R
R
5
6
7
N
H
H
H
H
9
CH3
H
H
H
N
N
(C2H5)2N
(C2H5)2N
10
11
N
N
O
N
N
N
N
H
(C2H5)2N
N
N
8
Br
H
12
N
Cl
H
N
Scheme 2. Synthesis of 2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazine derivatives 5–12.

Molecules 2018, 23, 1616
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The structures of the 2-imino-coumarin derivatives
5–
12 were confirmed by elemental analysis,
IR and NMR spectra. In the IR spectra, N-H stretching vibrations of the C=N-H group and the primary
amine group (NH2) of the 1,3,5-triazine ring are observed in a range of 3500 to 3200 cm−1. In turn,
1H-NMR spectra contain a characteristic singlet representing the proton C4-H of the coumarin ring in
a range of 7.43–8.57 ppm, while the proton signal of the imino group C=N
H
appears in the region of
10.45–11.00 ppm.
However, during spectroscopic characterization of the compounds
7 and 9 containing pyrazoline
moiety, we noted the presence of two rotamers with doubled signals found for the protons of the C=NH
◦
group in the 1H-NMR spectra, which were recorded in DMSO-d6 solution at 20–22 C (293.15–295.15 K).
The ratio of the rotamers, which was deduced from the integration of the C=NH proton signals, was 1:1
(see experimental section).
To obtain a better insight into the origin of signal doubling and the structures of the possible
rotamers, we performed quantum chemical calculations for hybrid compound
possible rotamers and
generated from the rotation around the bond axis C3-C40 (rotation of
2-imino-coumarin) and C60-N100 (rotation pf pyrrazoline) are shown in Figure 2.
7 [69]. The four
A,
B,
C
D
7A
7B
7C
7D
E(DMSO) [a.u.]
−1368.473135
ΔE [kcal/mol]
0
−1368.47231
0.52
−1368.471997
0.71
−1368.470705
1.52
E(H2O) [a.u.]
−1368.473524
ΔE [kcal/mol]
−1368.472692
0.52
−1368.472381
0.71
−1368.471077
1.53
0
Figure 2. Structures of optimized rotamers 7A–D and corresponding electronic energies (E) and relative
energies ( E) calculated at B3LYP/6–31(d) level of theory [70] using polarizable continuum model
∆
(PCM) solvation model [71].
The structure 7A was proven to be the lowest energy rotameric form both in DMSO and aqueous
solution, while the energy differences between 7A and rotamers 7B, 7C and 7D were very low (0.52–1.53
kcal/mol). Therefore, we determined the barriers of C3-C40 and C60-N100 bond rotations (Figure 3)
and found that the barrier of C60-N100 rotation was much higher (15.2 kcal/mol) than those of C3-C40
rotation (8.5 kcal/mol). It is significantly easier to overcome the later barrier under normal conditions
(14–20 kcal/mol), which suggests that the two separate pairs of rotamers (7A, 7B) and (7C, 7D) may
exist in the solution at room temperature, leading to a doubling of the C2=NH proton signal.

Molecules 2018, 23, 1616
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◦
0
Figure 3. Profiles of the total energy difference with respect to the 180 rotation of single bonds C3–C4
(7A↔7B) and C6 –N1 (7A↔7D).
0
00
2.2. Synthesis of 2H-Chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazine Derivatives (Coumarin Derivatives)
In a series of experiments aimed at the purification of 2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazines
10 and 12 by means of crystallization, we observed that using dimethylformamide containing 10%
of water results in the hydrolysis of the imino group, which results in the formation of coumarin
derivatives 13 and 14 (Scheme 3). Thus, the imino-coumarins were proven to be rather unstable
under aqueous conditions and the presence of a mineral acid is not required for the hydrolysis of
imino-coumarin derivatives as described previously [72].
7
R
R
6
5
8
8a
O
1
2
O
N
4a
4
NH
O
3
DMF / H2O
b.p. 10 min.
4'
N
N
6'
N
2'
N
N
NH2
N
NH2
N
2"
N
N
3"
4"
10
13
, R = H
14, R = Cl
, R = H
12, R = Cl
Scheme 3. Synthesis of 2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazine derivatives 13 and 14.
The structures of the newly prepared compounds 13 and 14 were confirmed by elemental analyses
and spectroscopic data (IR and NMR). Thus, in the IR spectra, strong absorptions that are attributable
to the carbonyl group (C=O) at 1735 cm−1 are observed. In turn, the most diagnostic feature of the
1H-NMR spectra is the absence of signals corresponding to the protons of the C2=N
H
imino group.
proton signals of coumarin ring are found at 8.55 ppm (compound 13) and
8.54 ppm (compound 14).
The 13C-NMR spectrum recorded for 2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazine derivative 13 (Scheme 3)
The characteristic C4-
H
0
0
0
revealed three signals of C2 =N, C4 =N and C6 =N at 168.95, 167.12 and 164.73 ppm, which confirmed

Molecules 2018, 23, 1616
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the presence of triazine moiety. The signals of the carbonyl group (C2=O), C8a (quaternary carbon atom)
and C4-H of coumarin ring are located at 157.50, 154.13 and 144.41 ppm, respectively. The spectrum
of 13 shows a signal at 151.25 ppm, which may be assigned to the quaternary carbon atom of
phenylpiperazine. Carbon atoms of phenyl rings (C200-H, C300-H, C400-H of phenylpiperazine and
C3, C4a, C5-H, C6-H, C7-H, C8-H of coumarin) give signals in the range of 133.25–116.21 ppm.
The aliphatic carbons of piperazine moiety are observed at the highest field (48.62 and 42.78 ppm).
2.3. In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity of 2-Imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazines (Imino-Coumarins 5–12) and
2H-Chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazines (Coumarins 13, 14)
The in vitro cytotoxic properties of compounds were evaluated by the crystal violet microtiter
plate assay as described earlier [73] with a panel of five human tumor cell lines: human pancreatic
cancer cell line DAN-G, human lung cancer line A-427, human non-small cell lung cancer cell line
LCLC-103H, human cervix cancer cell line SISO and human urinary bladder cancer cell line RT-4.
This assay measures the antiproliferative potencies of compounds towards actively dividing cancer
cells. Primary screening was performed to indicate whether a compound possesses enough activity
at a concentration of 20
the determination of cytotoxic potencies. The IC50 values were obtained after 96-h exposure to the
2-imino-coumarin derivatives 12 and the coumarin derivatives 13 and 14. The IC50 values calculated
µM to inhibit cell growth by 50%. The secondary screening was aimed at
5
–
from the dose–response data are presented in Table 1 and Figure 4.
The compounds tested can be divided into two series: (1) derivatives
heterocyclic moiety at the position 6’ of the triazine ring and (2) analogues 10
5
–
–
9
containing a small
12 substituted with
a bulky lipophilic 4-phenylpiperazine moiety. In the first series, the most potent substances were
compounds and with the basic electron-donating diethylamino substituent at the position 7 of
2-iminocoumarin ring (IC50 in the range of 5.67–9.21 M and 8.16–15.02 M, respectively). On the
bearing electron-withdrawing Br substituent at
6
7
µ
µ
other hand, the lowest activity showed the analogue
8
the position 6 (IC50 in the range of 7.69–28.25 µM).
The same pattern was seen in the second series of 4-phenylpiperazine-containing compounds.
The substitution of 10 with a basic electron-withdrawing Cl substituent, which creates 12, considerably
reduced the cytotoxic activity (IC50 in the range of 8.35–21.12 µM vs. 26.32–37.19 µM), while the
introduction of a basic electron-donating diethylamino group at the position 7 resulted in the most
potent compound 11, which showed slightly lower cytotoxic activities than cisplatin (IC50 values
1.51–2.60 µM vs. 0.06–0.15 mM).
It should be noted that the transformation of 2-iminocoumarins 10 and 12 into the corresponding
coumarins 13 and 14 did not improve their cytotoxic properties (see Table 1 and Figure 4).

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Table 1. Cytotoxic activity of 2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazines
5–
12 and 2H-chromen-
3-yl-1,3,5-triazines 13
,
14 on five human tumor cell lines (IC50
±
SD, µM) compared to cisplatin (CDDP).
R1
6
5
R
6'
5'
N
4
R2
4'
7
1'
N
2'
NH2
8
3
O
N
3'
1
5'
2
NH
No.
R
R1
R2
X
DAN-G
A-427
LCLC
SISO
RT-4
15.12 ±
9.04 ±
14.17 ±
21.33 ±
16.24 ±
5
N
H
H
NH
5.79
4.55
12.98
2.69
6.15
9.21 ±
7.62 ±
6.18 ±
5.67 ±
8.37 ±
6
7
O
N
H
H
(C2H5)2N
(C2H5)2N
NH
NH
0.59
0.27
1.26
0.80
1.66
11.19 ±
8.16 ±
15.02 ±
11.64 ±
11.04 ±
N
0.55
3.08
0.82
1.69
6.49
N
N
28.25 ±
26.87 ±
27.42 ±
7.69 ±
21.40 ±
8
9
Br
H
H
NH
NH
N
N
4.06
2.45
4.00
1.72
2.39
11.91 ±
13.56 ±
15.47 ±
14.44 ±
6.91 ±
CH3
0.52
1.45
1.84
2.49
0.62
N
8.35 ±
14.79 ±
21.12 ±
15.24 ±
16.24 ±
N
N
N
N
N
N
10
11
12
13
14
H
H
H
NH
NH
NH
O
0.87
0.45
2.69
0.73
6.15
2.14 ±
1.51 ±
2.21 ±
2.60 ±
1.66 ±
N
N
N
N
(C2H5)2N
0.25
0.17
0.39
0.37
0.25
23.26 ±
37.19 ±
34.24 ±
29.86 ±
26.32 ±
Cl
H
H
H
H
6.62
6.09
3.05
6.13
2.99
31.44 ±
19.82 ±
32.73 ±
37.73 ±
>50
5.98
1.12
2.33
3.13
15.87 ±
25.95 ±
17.15 ±
29.15 ±
36.14 ±
Cl
O
1.73
10.95
1.56
7.64
7.00
0.73 ±
1.96 ±
0.90 ±
0.24 ±
1.61 ±
cisplatin (CDDP) reference [73]
0.34
0.54
0.19
0.06
0.16

Molecules 2018, 23, 1616
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Figure 4.
IC50
(µM) values of 2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazines
5–12 and
2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazines 13
,
14 on five human tumor cell lines (DAN-G, A-427, LCLC,
SISO, RT-4) compared to cisplatin (CDDP).
3. Experimental Section
The melting points were determined with a Boëtius apparatus and are uncorrected. The infrared
spectra were obtained on KBr pastilles using a Nicolet 380 FT-IR (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham,
MA, USA). Magnetic resonance spectra (NMR) were recorded with a Varian Gemini 200 BB (200 MHz)
spectrometer (Varian Inc. Palo Alto, CA, USA) and Varian Unity Inova 500 (500 MHz) spectrometer in
200 MHZ in a DMSO-d6 solution. The residual peak of the solvent was used as an internal standard.
Chemical shifts (
δ
) are given in ppm. Coupling constants (J) are given in Hz. The elemental analyses of
0.4% of the theoretical values.
carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen determined for compounds were within
±
All cell culture reagents were purchased from Sigma (Deisenhofen, FRG). The cancer cell lines
used included the following: human large cell lung carcinoma (LCLC-103H), human urinary bladder
carcinoma (5637), human lung carcinoma (A-427), human uterine cervical adenocarcinoma (SISO),
human bladder cell carcinoma (RT-4) and human pancreas cell adenocarcinoma (DAN-G). These cancer
cell lines were obtained from the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ,
Braunschweig, FRG). The culture medium for cell lines was a RPMI-1640 medium containing 2 g/L
HCO3 and 10% FCS. Cells were incubated in a humid atmosphere of 5% CO2 at 37 C in 75 cm2 plastic
◦
culture flasks (Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, FRG) and were passaged shortly before becoming confluent.
For the cytotoxicity studies, 100 µL of a cell suspension was seeded into 96-well microtiter plates
(Sarstedt) at a density of 1000 cell per well except for the LCLC-103H cell line, which was plated
out at 250 cells per well. One day after plating, the cells were treated with the test substance at five
concentrations per compound. The 1000-fold concentrated stock solutions in DMF or DMSO were
serially diluted by 50% in DMF or DMSO to give the feed solutions, which were diluted by 500-fold in
the culture medium. The controls received DMF or DMSO. Each concentration was tested in eight
wells, with each well receiving 100
µL of the medium containing the substance. The concentration
ranges were chosen to bracket the expected IC50 values as best as possible. The cells were incubated for

Molecules 2018, 23, 1616
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96 h. After this, the medium was removed and replaced with 1% glutaraldehyde/PBS. Optical density
(OD) was measured at = 570 nm by use of a Sunrise plate reader (Anthos 2010, Salzburg, Austria).
λ
Corrected T/C values were calculated according to the following equation:
(T/C)corr(%) = (O.D.T − O.D.c.0)/(O.D.C − O.D.c.0) × 100
(1)
where O.D.T is the mean absorbance of the treated cells; O.D.C is the mean absorbance of the controls;
and O.D.c.0 is the mean absorbance at the time that the drug was added. The IC50 values were estimated
by a linear least-square regression of the T/Ccorr values compared to the logarithm of the substance
concentration. Only the concentrations that yielded T/Ccorr values between 10% and 90% were used in
the calculation. The reported IC50 values are the averages of three independent experiments.
3.1. General Procedure for Preparation of Biguanide Hydrochlorides (Scheme 1)
Cyanoguanidine (dicyandiamide) (2.86 g, 34 mmol) was added to an appropriate solution of amine
hydrochloride (34 mmol) in anhydrous n-butanol (10 mL). The mixture was carefully heated until the
exothermic reaction was initiated (ca. 90 ◦C) before being stirred at 122–123 ◦C for 8 h. After cooling
,
the mixture was stirred for a further 6 h at room temperature. The next day, the precipitate was filtered,
washed with n-butanol and isopropanol and purified by crystallization using methanol.
Another method described in reference [74] involves the fusion of an equimolar mixture of an
amine hydrochloride and cyanoguanidine at 130–150 ◦C for 0.5–2 h.
3.2. Synthesis of 2-[4,6-Diamine-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]acetonitrile Derivatives 1, 3 and 4
Sodium metal (0.584 g, 25.4 mmol) was added slowly with stirring to anhydrous ethanol (36 mL)
,
before the mixture was stirred under gentle reflux. The appropriate amount of biguanide hydrochloride
(25.4 mmol) was added to the obtained solution of sodium ethoxide in ethanol. The mixture was
cooled and stirred at room temperature for 2 h. The ethyl cyanoacetate (25.4 mmol, 2.03 mL,
◦
d = 1.418 g/mL) was added dropwise at room temperature (20–22 C) to a stirred solution over the next
hour. The precipitate was filtered, washed with ethanol and crystallized from the appropriate solvent.
The compounds 1, 3 and 4 were obtained by the following procedure:
◦
2-[4-Amino-6-(piperidin-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]acetonitrile (
1
), Yield 2.6 g (47%); m.p. 126–127 C (MeOH);
IR (KBr)
ν
(cm−1): 3462, 3355, 3245, 3006, 2961, 2927, 2860, 2257, 1651, 1578, 1550, 1515, 1465, 1446,
max
1389, 1369, 1290, 994, 805; 1H-NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d6)
δ (ppm): 1.40–1.70 (m, 6H, 3xCH2), 3.60–3.80
(m, 4H, 2xCH2), 3.85 (s, 2H, CH2); 6.97 (br.s, 2H, NH2). Anal. calcd for C10H14N6 (218.26): C, 55.03; H,
6.47; N, 38.50. Found: C, 54.98; H, 6.38; N, 38.46.
2-[4-Amino-6-(3,5,5-trimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]acetonitrile (
3
), Yield 3.00 g
(48%); m.p. 244–245 ◦C (n-BuOH), reference [64]: 246–247 ◦C; IR (KBr)
ν
max (cm−1): 3354, 3214, 2951,
1
2924, 2261, 1655, 1539, 1469, 1447, 1380, 1335, 1149, 969, 932, 807, 608. H-NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d6)
δ
(ppm): 1.57 (s, 6H, 2xCH3), 1.99 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.83 (s, 2H, CH2), 3.92 (s, 2H, CH2); 7.10 (s, 1H, NH), 7.40
(s, 1H, NH). Anal. calcd for C11H15N7 (245.28): C, 53.86; H, 6.16; N, 39.97. Found: C, 53.78; H, 6.18;
N, 39.86.
2-[4-Amino-6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]acetonitrile (4
), Yield 4.5 g (60%); m.p. 207–209 ◦C
(DMF-H2O), reference [66]: 205–208 ◦C; IR (KBr)
1656, 1553, 1494, 1476, 1443, 1386, 1370, 1332, 1282, 1240, 1146, 1004, 919, 801, 761, 696; H-NMR
ν
(cm−1): 3433, 3322, 3149, 2963, 2908, 2814, 2259,
max
1
(500 MHz, DMSO-d6)
δ (ppm): 3.14–3.28 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 3.82–3.90 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 3.91 (s, 2H, CH2),
6.82 (t, 1H, CH), 6.99 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 2H, 2xCH), 7.06 (s, 1H, NH), 7.15 (s, 1H, NH), 7.24 (t, 2H, 2xCH).
Anal. calcd for C15H17N7 (295.34): C, 61.00; H, 5.80; N, 33.20. Found: C, 60.92; H, 5.74; N, 33.12.

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3.3. Synthesis of 2-(4-amino-6-morpholino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)acetonitrile (2)
Ethyl cyanoacetate (3.46 g, 3.44 mL, 30.57 mmol, d = 1.418 g/mL) was added dropwise to a solution
of N-carbamimidoylmorpholine-4-carboximidamide (5.23 g, 30.57 mmol) in anhydrous methanol
◦
(48 mL) over 1 h. The mixture was stirred for 2 h at room temperature (20–22 C). The precipitate was
filtered and washed with cold methanol (5 ◦C). The product was crystallized from methanol. Yield
3.2 g (48%); m.p. 164–165 ◦C (MeOH), reference [66]: 178–180 ◦C; IR (KBr)
ν
(cm−1): 3352, 3315,
max
3202, 2974, 2951, 2258, 1650, 1574, 1530, 1471, 1447, 1380, 1335, 1152, 969, 808, 631; 1H-NMR (200 MHz,
DMSO-d6) (ppm): 3.55–3.63 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 3.64–3.75 (m, 4H, 2xCH2); 3.88 (s, 2H, CH2), 7.04 (s, 1H,
δ
NH), 7.12 (s, 1H, NH). Anal. calcd. for C9H12N6O (220.23): C, 49.08; H, 5.49; N, 38.16. Found: C, 49.02;
H, 5.41; N, 38.18.
3.4. Synthesis of 2-Imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazine Derivatives 5–12 (General Procedure)
An appropriate amount of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde derivative (13 mmol) was added gradually
to a suspension of an appropriate amount of 1,3,5-triazineacetonitrile 1–4 (10 mmol) in 98%
ethanol (30 mL). After 3 min of stirring, piperidine (0.2 mL) was added dropwise to the solution.
The mixture was heated for 30 min at 40 ◦C and cooled. Stirring was continued at room
◦
temperature (20–22 C) for 18 h. The precipitate was filtered, washed with anhydrous ethanol
(3
×
2 mL) and dried. The imino-coumarin derivatives 5–12 were proven to be unstable upon
heating in protic solvents. They also decomposed when we attempted chromatographic purification
on silica gel. Therefore, the products washed with cold ethanol were used for structural and
biological investigations.
The following compounds were obtained by the following procedure:
4-(2-Imino-2H-chromen-3-yl)-6-(piperidin-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine (
5
), Yellow powder 0.67 g (21%); m.p.
◦
216–217 C; IR (KBr)
1294, 1237, 818, 760; H-NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d6)
ν
1
(cm−1): 3339, 3213, 3047, 2941, 2850, 1650, 1613, 1598, 1541, 1513, 1456, 1395,
max
δ (ppm): 1.40–1.75 (m, 6H, 3xCH2), 3.65–3.85
(m, 4H, 2xCH2), 6.95–7.30 (m, 4H, 2xCH + NH2), 7.45–7.60 (m, 1H, CH), 7.67 (d, J = 7.3 Hz, 1H, CH),
8.50 (s, 1H, CH), 10.71 (s, 1H, NH). Anal. calcd for C17H18N6O (322.36): C, 63.34; H, 5.63; N, 26.07.
Found: C, 63.28; H, 5.51; N, 25.98.
4-[7-(Diethylamino)-2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl]-6-morpholino-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine (6), Yellow powder, yield
2.41 g (61%); m.p. 232–233 ◦C; IR (KBr)
1508, 1440, 1398, 1351, 1280, 1236, 1137, 816; H-NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6)
ν
(cm−1): 3443, 3333, 3210, 2967, 2924, 2854, 1654, 1603,
max
1
δ (ppm): 1.14 (t, 6H,
2xCH3), 3.44 (q, 4H, 2xCH2), 3.60–3.69 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 3.70–3.85 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 6.39 (s, 1H, CH), 6.55
(d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, CH), 7.00 (s, 1H, NH), 7.12 (s, 1H, NH), 7.39 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, CH), 8.45 (s, 1H, CH),
10.48 (s, 1H, NH). Anal. calcd for C20H25N7O2 (395.46): C, 60.74; H, 6.37; N, 24.79. Found: C, 60.68; H,
6.31; N, 24.57.
4-[7-(Diethylamino)-2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl]-6-(3,5,5-trimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-
2-amine (
3175, 2974, 2930, 1652, 1603, 1439, 1383, 1352, 1332, 1248, 1143, 1075, 811; 1H-NMR (500 MHz,
DMSO-d6) (ppm): 1.11 (t, 6H, 2xCH3), 1.61 (s, 6H, 2xCH3), 1.99 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.84 (s, 2H, CH2), 3.42
7
), Orange powder, yield 2.05 g (49%); m.p. 232–233 ◦C; IR (KBr)
ν
(cm−1): 3464, 3289,
max
δ
(q, 4H, 2xCH2), 6.37 (s, 1H, CH), 6.51 (dd, J1 = 2.4 Hz, J2 = 8.8 Hz, 1H, CH), 7.00 (br.s, 2H, NH2), 7.33
(d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, CH), 8.32 (s, 1H, CH), 10.45 (br.s, 0.5H, NH), 10.82 (br.s, 0.5H, NH). Anal. calcd for
C22H28N8O (420.51): C, 62.84; H, 6.71; N, 26.65. Found: C, 62.68; H, 6.64; N, 26.58.
4-(6-Bromo-2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl)-6-(3,5,5-trimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine
(
8
), Orange powder, yield 1.62 g (38%); m.p. 207–208 ◦C; IR (KBr)
ν
(cm−1): 3208, 2923, 2855, 1672,
max
1605, 1533, 1439, 1376, 1330, 1261, 1237, 1155, 813; 1H-NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d6)
δ (ppm): 1.53 (s, 6H,
2xCH3), 1.61 (s, 3H, CH3), 3.76 (s, 2H, CH2), 7.13 (br.s, 2H, NH2), 7.18 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, CH), 7.66 (dd,
J1 = 2.3 Hz, J2 = 8.8 Hz, 1H, CH), 7.98 (d, J = 2.3 Hz, 1H, CH), 8.50 (s, 1H, CH), 10.82 (s, 1H, NH). Anal.
calcd for C18H18BrN7O (428.29): C, 50.48; H, 4.24; N, 22.89. Found: C, 50.42; H, 4.12; N, 22.84.

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4-(2-Imino-6-methyl-2H-chromen-3-yl)-6-(3,5,5-trimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine
), Yellow powder, yield 1.12 g (31%); m.p. 172–173 ◦C; IR (KBr) max (cm−1): 3448, 3209, 1649, 1522,
1458, 1399, 1379, 1339, 810, 608; 1H-NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6)
(ppm): 1.64 (s, 6H, 2xCH3), 2.02 (s,
(9
ν
δ
3H, CH3), 2.34 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.89 (s, 2H, CH2), 7.12 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 1H, CH), 7.24 (br.s, 2H, NH2), 7.36 (d,
J = 8.2 Hz, 1H, CH), 7.43 (s, 1H, CH), 8.36 (br.s, 0.5H, CH), 8.40 (br.s, 0.5H, CH); 10.63 (br.s, 0.5H, NH),
11.00 (br.s, 0.5H, NH). Anal. calcd for C19H21N7O (363.42): C, 62.79; H, 5.82; N, 26.98. Found: C, 62.68;
H, 5.78; N, 26.92.
4-(2-Imino-2H-chromen-3-y◦l)-6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine (10), Yellow powder, yield
1.07 g (27%); m.p. 193–194 C; IR (KBr) ν
max (cm−1): 3475, 3295, 3178, 3061, 2851, 1655, 1615, 1600, 1526,
1444, 1398, 1375, 1286, 1233, 1040, 1007, 938, 814, 754; 1H-NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d6)
δ (ppm): 3.15–3.30
(m, 4H, 2xCH2), 3.85–4.05 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 6.82 (t, 1H, CH), 7.00 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 2H, 2xCH), 7.15–7.40
(m, 6H, 4xCH + NH2), 7.50–7.60 (m, 1H, CH), 7.68 (d, J = 7.4 Hz, 1H, CH), 8.57 (s, 1H, CH), 10.72 (s,
1H, NH); 13C NMR (50 MHz, DMSO-d6)
δ (ppm): 41.06 (2 overlapping signals), 48.59 (2 overlapping
signals), 115.46, 116.21 (2 overlapping signals), 118.76, 119.58, 121.38, 123.62, 129.26 (2 overlapping
signals), 129.54, 133.22, 137.91, 151.20, 153.85, 159.18, 164.10, 166.31, 167.94. Anal. calcd for C22H21N7O
(399.45): C, 66.15; H, 5.30; N, 24.55. Found: C, 66.09; H, 5.26; N, 24.48.
4-[7-(Diethylamino)-2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl]-6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine (11), Orange
powder, yield 2.54 g (54%); m.p. 158–159 ◦C; IR (KBr) max (cm−1): 3496, 3392, 3315, 3252, 3204, 3054,
ν
2971, 2853, 1652, 1604, 1510, 1439, 1397, 1350, 1288, 1235, 1160, 1137, 1007, 815, 756, 690; 1H-NMR (500
MHz, DMSO-d6) (ppm): 1.14 (t, 6H, 2xCH3), 3.20–3.25 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 3.44 (q, 4H, 2xCH2), 3.85–4.00
δ
(m, 4H, 2xCH2), 6.41 (s, 1H, CH), 6.55 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, CH), 6.83 (t, 1H, CH), 6.95–7.05 (m, 3H, 2xCH
+ NH), 7.13 (br.s, 1H, NH), 7.25 (t, 2H, 2xCH), 7.40 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, CH), 8.46 (s, 1H, CH), 10.49 (s, 1H,
NH). Anal. calcd for C26H30N8O (470.57): C, 66.36; H, 6.43; N, 23.81. Found: C, 66.28; H, 6.41; N, 23.78.
4-(6-Chloro-2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl)-6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine (12), Dark yellow
powder, yield 1.43 g (33%); m.p. 196–197 ◦C; IR (KBr) max (cm−1): 3480, 3389, 3289, 3195, 3058, 2908,
ν
2855, 1653, 1596, 1521, 1440, 1394, 1290, 1230, 1008, 938, 813, 758, 691; 1H-NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6)
δ
(ppm): 3.18–3.28 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 3.85–4.05 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 6.80–6.85 (m, 1H, CH), 7.02 (d, J = 7.8 Hz,
2H, 2xCH), 7.20–7.30 (m, 4H, 3xCH + NH), 7.34 (br.s, 1H, NH), 7.57 (dd, J1 = 2.0 Hz, J2 = 8.8 Hz, 1H,
CH), 7.86 (s, 1H, CH), 8.56 (s, 1H, CH), 10.81 (s, 1H, NH). Anal. calcd for C22H20ClN7O (433.89): C,
60.90; H, 4.65; N, 22.60. Found: C, 60.82; H, 4.62; N, 22.51.
3.5. Synthesis of 2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazine Derivatives 13 and 14 (General Procedure)
An appropriate amount of 2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl-1,3,5-triazine derivative 10 or 12 (1.5 mmol)
was dissolved in DMF containing 10% water (2–4 mL). The mixture was slowly heated with stirring to
boiling for 10 min, before being cooled to ambient temperature (20–22 ◦C). Stirring was continued at
room temperature (20–22 ◦C) and crushed ice was added until a precipitate was formed. The product
was filtered, washed with water, dried and crystallized from DMF.
3-[4-Amino-6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-2H-chromen-2-one (13), Light yellow powder,
◦
yield 0.46 g (77%); m.p. 266–267 C; IR (KBr)
1628, 1609, 1557, 1524, 1504, 1473, 1442, 1375, 1291, 1232, 979, 816, 749; 1H-NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6)
(ppm): 3.16–3.24 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 3.85–3.99 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 6.83 (t, 1H, CH), 7.01 (d, J = 8.3 Hz,
ν
max (cm−1): 3464, 3325, 3165, 3067, 2974, 2833, 1735, 1663,
δ
2H, 2xCH), 7.06 (br.s, 1H, NH), 7.13 (br.s, 1H, NH), 7.25 (t, 2H, 2xCH), 7.41 (t, 1H, CH), 7.46 (d, J =
8.3 Hz, 1H, CH), 7.70 (t, 1H, CH), 7.88 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 1H, CH), 8.55 (s, 1H, CH); 13C-NMR (50 MHz,
DMSO-d6)
δ (ppm): 42.78 (2 overlapping signals), 48.62 (2 overlapping signals), 116.21 (2 overlapping
signals), 116.27, 118.76, 119.57, 124.93, 125.56, 129.25 (2 overlapping signals), 129.68, 133.25, 144.41,
151.25, 154.13, 157.50, 164.73, 167.12, 168.95. Anal. calcd for C22H20N6O2 (400.43): C, 65.99; H, 5.03; N,
20.99. Found: C, 65.79; H, 4.92; N, 20.91.

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3-[4-Amino-6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-6-chloro-2H-chromen-2-one (14), Yellow powder,
yield 0.48 g (74%); m.p. 245–246 ◦C; IR (KBr) (cm−1): 3482, 3314, 3220, 2988, 2948, 2908, 2850,
ν
max
1735, 1645, 1595, 1569, 1555, 1529, 1471, 1442, 1373, 1288, 1233, 1045, 946, 827, 814; 1H-NMR (200 MHz,
DMSO-d6) (ppm): 3.05–3.45 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 3.75–4.05 (m, 4H, 2xCH2), 6.81 (t, 1H, CH), 6.90–7.14
δ
(m, 3H, 2xCH + NH), 7.15–7.30 (m, 2H, CH + NH), 7.35–7.55 (m, 2H, 2xCH), 7.67 (t, 1H, CH), 7.87
(d, J = 7.0 Hz, 1H, CH), 8.54 (s, 1H, CH). Anal. calcd for C22H19ClN6O2 (434.88): C, 60.76; H, 4.40; N,
19.32. Found: C, 60.68; H, 4.36; N, 19.28.
4. Conclusions
The results of the biological studies indicate that hybrid compounds
cytotoxic properties. However, significant antiproliferative potency is associated with a diethylamino
substituent at the position 7 of the coumarin ring (compounds and 11). Importantly, compound 11
5–14 have rather weak
6
with a bulky 4-phenylpiperazine moiety installed at the position 6’ of the triazine ring showed
similar potency to cisplatin against several of the cell lines. It is too early to speculate on
the mechanism of action of the compound 11. However, it is well known that coumarins are
minor groove binders and exhibit the intercalative mode of binding properties with DNA [75,76].
Therefore, the presence of diethylamino group may increase the efficiency of the intercalative binding
due to the extra non-covalent force between the substituent and DNA grooves. The most potent
2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazine-imino-coumarin 11 may serve as a lead structure for further development
of new antitumor drugs. Thus, the hybrid molecule composed of 2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazine and
2-iminocoumarin was proven to be a promising heterocyclic scaffold for the construction of novel
cytotoxic compounds. The syntheses of analogues containing lipophilic substituents at the position 60
of the triazine ring and electron-donating substituents at the positions 5, 6, 7 or 8 of the imino-coumarin
moiety, along with quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies, are planned.
Author Contributions: Conceived and designed the project: F.S. Performed chemical experiments: A.M.
Designed the biological tests: P.J.B. Performed biological tests: A.M. Performed molecular modeling studies: J.S.
Wrote the paper: F.S., Ł.B., P.J.B. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgments: A.M. thanks the European Union student exchange program Erasmus for financial support
(maintenance and accommodation).
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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