Ultrasound-assisted Synthesis of Novel 4-[3-acetyl-2-(N-alkyl(aryl)acetamido)-1,3, 4-thiadiazol-5-yl]-3-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-1-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrazoles: Anticancer Activities, Apoptotic, Cell Cycle, Molecular Docking, and ADMET Studies

A novel series of 4-[3-acetyl-2-(N-alkyl(aryl)acetamido)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-5-yl]- 3-(2-oxo-2<i>H</i>-chromen-3-yl)-1-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)-1<i>H</i>-pyrazoles (2a-i) and 3 was synthesized in good yields. The methodology was depended on a one-pot four-components reaction of hydrazine hydrate, alkyl(aryl) isothiocyanate, 3-(2-oxo-2<i>H</i>-chromen-3-yl)-1-(4- phenylthiazol-2-yl)-1<i>H-</i>pyrazole-4-carboxaldehyde (1), and acetic anhydride in acetic acid under ultrasound irradiation. The spectral tools confirmed the structures of all synthesized compounds. Using the standard SRB method, the designed compounds were screened for their <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity properties against PC3, HepG2, and HCT116 human cancer cell lines. Products 2a and 2c worked best against all cancer cells tested, as well as doxorubicin. Apoptosis and cell cycle analyses were performed for the bioactive products 2a and 2c. Both products strongly impacted all tumor cells in the late apoptotic pathway and significantly inhibited all cancer cell types under investigation in both the S and G2 phases. After that, a molecular docking study was carried out on products 2a and 2c to investigate how they interact with the CDK-8 receptor. The ADMET prediction suggested that these bioactive products may be effective anticancer treatments.