The chalcone-like series 1a-1g was efficiently synthesized from Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction (52-74% yields). Compounds 1a-1g were designed by molecular hybridization based on the anti-inflammatory drug methyl salicylate (3) and the antileishmanial moiety of the Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts 2a-2g. The 1a-1g compounds were much more actives than precursor series 2a-2g, for example, IC(50)=7.65 μM on Leishmania amazonensis and 10.14 μM on Leishmania chagasi (compound 1c) when compared to IC(50)=50.08 μM on L. amazonensis and 82.29 μM on L. chagasi (compound 2c). The IC(50) values of compound 3 (228.49 μM on L. amazonensis and 261.45 μM on L. chagasi) and acryloyl salicylate 4 (108.50 μM on L. amazonensis and 118.83 μM on L. chagasi) were determined here, by the first time, on Leishmania.

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In the present work we described improvements in the 1-7 antiparasitic Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts synthesis and their antimitotic activity on sea urchin embryonic cells. The 2-[Hydroxy(2-nitrophenyl)methyl]acrylonitrile (1) and 2-[Hydroxy(4-bromophenyl) methyl]acrylonitrile (4) were the most effective compounds to block the progression to embryonic morula stage (EC(50) = 75.8 μM and 72.6 μM, respectively). Compounds 1 and 4 were also effective in blocking the first cell division but to a lesser extent. The 2-[Hydroxy(pyridin-4-yl)methyl]acrylonitrile (7) exhibited a strong inhibition of cell divisions and progression to the first cleavage and morula stage. Fluorescent dye extrusion assay suggests that these adducts are not ABC protein substrates, which confers an additional interest in these new class of potential anticancer drugs.

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