Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of new 1,5-disubstituted tetrazoles bearing hydrazone moiety

A new class of tetrazole-hydrazone derivatives including chloro-substituted phenyl moiety were synthesized to perform anticancer activity screening. The structural elucidation of the compounds was performed by IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, MS spectral, and elemental analyses data. Anticancer effect of the compounds was evaluated against A549 and C6 tumor cell lines. MTT, analysis of DNA synthesis and analysis of caspase-3 activation assays were carried out for anticancer activity investigations. Compounds N'-(2-chlorobenzylidene)-4-[(1-phenyl-1H-tetrazole-5-yl)thio]butanohydrazide (3d), N'-(2,3-dichlorobenzylidene)-4-[(1-phenyl-1H-tetrazole-5-yl)thio]butanohydrazide (3d), and N'-(3,4-dichlorobenzylidene)-4-[(1-phenyl-1H-tetrazole-5-yl)thio]butanohydrazide (3e) showed significant anticancer activity. Anticancer screening tests also indicated that compound 3d has potential on C6 tumor cells with apoptotic pathway.