582 ISSN 1068-1620, Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2020, Vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 582–589. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2020. An Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Some Novel Chromene-Based Heterocyclic Compounds of Biological Interest E. Mansour a, 1 , E. M. Nassar a , A. F. El-Farargy b , and F. M. Abdelrazek c a Chemistry Department, Faculty of Women for Arts, Science and Education, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11767 Egypt b Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519 Egypt c Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613 Egypt Received July 29, 2019; revised September 13, 2019; accepted October 19, 2019 Abstract—The target chromonylchalcone 3-(3-(4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl)-acryloyl)-2H-chromen-2-one was synthesized by reacting 3-acetylcoumarin with 3-formylchromone. The chromonylchalcone was reacted with active methylene reagents, thiourea, hydrazines, aromatic amines, and sodium azide to afford new het- erocyclic compounds. The newly prepared compounds were screened for their anti-microbial and anti- inflammatory activities. Keywords: chromenes, chalcones, pyrazoles, triazoles, pyrimidines, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory activities DOI: 10.1134/S1068162020040135 INTRODUCTION Benzopyran-2-one (coumarin), benzopyran-4- one (chromone), and their derivatives are widely dis- tributed in nature presenting a wide range of biologi- cally active compounds exhibiting cytotoxic, neuro- protective, antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and anti-cancer properties [1]. The two important pyran-2-one (cou- marin) and pyran-4-one (chromone) compounds can be used as key precursors in the synthesis of different heterocyclic compounds. Coumarin derivatives are well known as antibacterial, antiviral, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant agents [2–4]. Chromone derivatives also have their characteristic biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities; they are useful as antiallergic agents for bronchial asthma [5]. Several studies revealed that chalcones containing chromone and coumarin moieties constitute important members of biologically active compounds. In continuation of our current research aiming to synthesize diverse heterocyclic systems with expected biological importance [6–12], we considered that the combination of a coumarin ring with a chromone and other heterocyclic rings in one entity may enhance their biological activity due to the combined effect of these rings. 3-Acetylcoumarin (I) and 3-formylchro- mone (II) scaffolds seemed suitable starting materials to fulfill the objective of synthesizing novel chromonyl chromenyl chalcone (III), and then some heterocyclic ring systems on this chalcone [12]. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3-Acetylcoumarin (I) [13] was reacted with 3-formylchromone (II) [14] in refluxing ethanol cata- lyzed by 4-N,N-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) to afford the new chalcone (III). The IR spectrum of chalcone (III) displayed coumarin and chromone car- bonyl groups at ν max 1739 and 1711 cm –1 , respectively. The 1 H NMR spectrum revealed olefinic protons as two doublets at δ 7.94–7.96 and 8.14–8.16 ppm. The chromone and chromene protons appeared as singlets at δ 8.65 and 8.93 ppm. The 13 C NMR spectrum showed three signals at 159.38, 177.66, and 183.75 ppm assignable to the three carbonyl carbons of coumarin, chromone, and chalcone, respectively (see Scheme 1 and Experimental). Condensation of chalcone (III) with malononitrile in refluxing ethanol catalyzed by piperidine afforded 2-aminopyran-3-carbonitrile derivative (IV). The IR spectrum of compound (IV) showed the absorption bands at ν max 3343–3204, 2203, and 1698 and 1676 cm –1 characteristic of the NH 2 , CN, and two carbonyl groups, respectively. The 1 H NMR spectrum exhibited a singlet at δ 6.85 ppm for NH 2 protons (exchangeable with D 2 O). 1 Corresponding author: phone: 00201115728866; e-mail: eman- mansour211@yahoo.com.