A novel Bi(OTf)3-mediated cycloisomerization of γ-alkynyl arylketones 4, 7, or 10 with molecular sieve (MS) in MeNO2 affords 3-substituted furans 3, 8, or 11 at rt for 3 h in moderate to good yields. The method provides mild, less-toxic, atom-economic and efficient conditions. The mechanism has been studied and proposed. Moreover, this route can be enlarged to gram scale.

The sensitizing effect of chromone-derived compounds on UVC-induced proliferation inhibition has not been comprehensively investigated so far. The subject of this study was to examine the proliferation change of oral cancer cells while using the combined treatment of UVC (254 nm) with our previously developed sulfonyl chromen-4-ones (CHW09), namely UVC/CHW09. Cell viability, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and DNA damage for the individual and combined treatments for UVC and/or CHW09 were examined in oral cancer Ca9-22 cells. In 24 h MTS assay, UVC (30 J/m2; UVC30), or CHW09 (25 and 50 µg/mL; namely, CHW09-25 and CHW09-50) show 54%, 59%, and 45% viability. The combined treatment (UVC30/CHW09-25 and UVC30/CHW09-50) show lower cell viability (45% and 35%). Mechanistically, UVC/CHW09 induced higher apoptosis than individual treatments and untreated control, which were supported by the evidence of flow cytometry for subG1, annexin V/7-aminoactinomycin D, pancaspase and caspases 3/7 activity, and western blotting for cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Moreover, this cleaved PARP expression was downregulated by pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. UVC/CHW09 showed higher oxidative stress than individual treatments and untreated control in terms of flow cytometry for reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial mass. Furthermore, UVC/CHW09 showed higher DNA damage than individual treatments and untreated control in terms of flow cytometry for H2A histone family member X and 8-oxo-2’-deoxyguanosine. In conclusion, combined treatment UVC/CHW09 suppresses proliferation, and promotes apoptosis, oxidative stress, and DNA damage against oral cancer cells, providing a novel application of sulfonyl chromen-4-ones in order to sensitize UVC induced proliferation inhibition for oral cancer therapy.

A straightforward synthesis of 3,8-dimethoxy-10,11-dihydrobenzo[j]fluoranthen-12-ones 1 is reported in a seven-step route from biphenyl-4,4'-diol 2 via the transformation of a double Claisen rearrangement, cross metathesis with ethyl acrylate, and polyphosphoric acid (PPA)-promoted Friedel-Crafts electrophilic benzannulation in good yields.

mCPBA-mediated intramolecular oxidative annulation of ortho-crotyl or cinnamyl arylaldehydes provides chroman, coumaran, isochroman, and tetrahydrobenzo­[c]­oxepine under different reaction conditions. This research investigates the reaction conditions for facile and efficient transformation.

NHOAc mediated domino Knoevenagel/Diels-Alder cyclocondensation of β-ketosulfones 1 and o-formyl allylbenzenes 2 provides sulfonyl oxabenzo[3.3.1]bicyclic core 4 in a cosolvent of toluene and HOAc (v/v = 1/1) at reflux for 3 h. The intermediate 3 contains a chalcone motif. The uses of various ammonium salts and solvent systems are investigated for facile and efficient transformation. The plausible mechanisms have been proposed and the DFT calculations have been included.

Several functionalized chromones, the key components of naturally occurring oxygenated heterocycles, have anticancer effects but their sulfone compounds are rarely investigated. In this study, we installed a sulfonyl substituent to chromen-4-one skeleton and synthesized CHW09 to evaluate its antioral cancer effect in terms of cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. In cell viability assay, CHW09 preferentially kills two oral cancer cells (Ca9-22 and CAL 27), less affecting normal oral cells (HGF-1). Although CHW09 does not change the cell cycle distribution significantly, CHW09 induces apoptosis validated by flow cytometry for annexin V and by western blotting for cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and caspases 3/8/9. These apoptosis signaling expressions are partly decreased by apoptosis inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK) or free radical scavenger (N-acetylcysteine). Furthermore, CHW09 induces oxidative stress validated by flow cytometry for the generations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial superoxide (MitoSOX), and the suppression of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). CHW09 also induces DNA damage validated by flow cytometry for the increases of DNA double strand break marker γH2AX and oxidative DNA damage marker 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG). Therefore, our newly synthesized CHW09 induces apoptosis, oxidative stress, and DNA damage, which may lead to preferential killing of oral cancer cells compared with normal oral cells.

BF3·OEt2-mediated one-pot formal (4 + 2) and (5 + 2) stereocontrolled cycloaddition of 4-alkenols 3 and 4 with veratrol affords the respective substituted tetralins 5 and benzosuberans 6 in good yields. The cascade protocol combines a facile double Friedel-Crafts benzannulation of 4-alkenols 3 and 4 (having two electrophilic sites) and veratrol (7a) (having two nucleophilic sites). A plausible mechanism was studied and proposed.

Temperature-controlled intermolecular desulfonylative condensation of α-sulfonyl o-hydroxyacetophenones with 2-formyl azaarenes (pyridines and quinolones) provides azaaryl (pyridyl and quinolyl) aurones and flavones under warming and refluxing toluene reaction conditions via the formation of the intermediate of sulfonyl chroman-4-one. The uses of various solvents are investigated for facile and efficient transformation. A plausible mechanism is proposed.