The most important advance in photocatalysis in the last decade has been the synthesis and application of organic compounds to promote this process. Organic dyes have shown ecological and economic...

Chromenes are compounds that may be useful for inhibiting topoisomerase and cytochrome, enzymes involved in the growth of cancer and fungal cells, respectively. The aim of this study was to synthesize a series of some novel 2-amino-3-cyano-4-aryl-6,7-methylendioxy-4H-chromenes 4a–o and 2-amino-3-cyano-5,7-dimethoxy-4-aryl-4H-chromenes 6a–h by a three-component reaction, and test these derivatives for anticancer and antifungal activity. Compounds 4a and 4b were more active than cisplatin (9) and topotecan (7) in SK-LU-1 cells, and more active than 9 in PC-3 cells. An evaluation was also made of the series of compounds 4 and 6 as potential antifungal agents against six Candida strains, finding their MIC50 to be less than or equal to that of fluconazole (8). Molecular docking studies are herein reported, for the interaction of 4 and 6 with topoisomerase IB and the active site of CYP51 of Candida spp. Compounds 4a–o and 6a–h interacted in a similar way as 7 with key amino acids of the active site of topoisomerase IB and showed better binding energy than 8 at the active site of CYP51. Hence, 4a–o and 6a–h are good candidates for further research, having demonstrated their dual inhibition of enzymes that participate in the growth of cancer and fungal cells.

The structure of Fischer carbene complexes (FCCs) is electron deficient. If bearing an α,β‐unsaturated system, it can generate a wide variety of compounds by undergoing many different transformations, including higher‐order cycloadditions. The latter are described as pericyclic reactions in which more than six electrons participate. These reactions have been employed in various areas of organic synthesis, resulting in highly selective compounds with a broad range of scaffolds. The first studies on higher‐order cycloadditions involving FCCs frequently yielded competing byproducts. Many groups have attempted to increase selectivity by exploring distinct reaction conditions, reagents and co‐catalysts (e. g., metal‐mediated cycloadditions). The present review is the first to focus exclusively on using higher‐order cycloadditions involving FCCs to synthesize carbocycles and heterocycles. Based on two decades of reports, an analysis is made of the main aspects of the mechanisms proposed for higher‐order cycloadditions and the structural diversity obtained by the substituent effect.

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