Design, Synthesis, and Cytotoxicity of 5-Fluoro-2-methyl-6-(4-aryl-piperazin-1-yl) Benzoxazoles

Abstract

To design new compounds suitable as starting points for anticancer drug development, we have synthesized a novel series of benzoxazoles with pharmaceutically advantageous piperazine and fluorine moieties attached to them. The newly synthesized benzoxazoles and their corresponding precursors were evaluated for cytotoxicity on human A-549 lung carcinoma cells and non-cancer HepaRG hepatocyes. Some of these new benzoxazoles show potential anticancer activity, while two of the intermediates show lung cancer selective properties at low concentrations where healthy cells are unaffected, indicating a selectivity window for anticancer compounds.

1. Introduction

Despite all the progress in biomedical research, cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Therefore, many efforts have been made to find new therapeutic agents that could potentially improve cancer therapy by using more selective and less toxic drugs.

Heterocyclic compounds are considered to be the most interesting drug-based structures in medicinal chemistry due to their widespread presence in lead compounds. Specifically, benzoxazoles have received much attention in recent years because of their broad spectrum of biological activities. Recent studies show that several benzoxazole analogues exhibit a number of biological activities including anticancer [1], antifungal [2], antituberculosis [3], mPGES-1 inhibitor [4], 5-HT receptor antagonist [5], CETP inhibitor [6], and antiplasmodial [7] activities.

Broad therapeutic spectrum compounds intrinsically possess a certain amount of cytotoxicity. Structural modification on lead anticancer compounds may eliminate or reduce cytotoxicity to a minimum level. Usually, a plethora of analogues are synthesized to decipher the underlying structure activity relationship (SAR) and to identify more selective, less toxic, and ADME-improved leads. Often, substitutions found to be bioactively advantageous on a certain active scaffold can be introduced to other scaffolds leading to the enhancement of bioactivity [8,9]. Fluorine and piperazine are common appendages and substituents in medicinal chemistry due to their immense utilities in drug design and their unique bioactivities [10,11].

The introduction of fluorine and piperazine appendages played a vital role in enhancing the antimicrobial activities of the quinolone drugs, e.g., ciprofloxacin^® (1) (Figure 1), the most active antibiotic drug on the market [12]. Similarly, we have successfully synthesized a variety of heterocyclic systems incorporating fluorine and piperazine moieties, such as quinoxaline [13] (2), benzimidazole [14] (3), quinazolinone [15] (4), and recently benzothiazole [16] (5). Some derivatives of our systems showed very promising biological activities, which were attributed to the presence of both appendages. In this study, we combined the benzoxazole scaffold with both piperazine and fluorine moieties and evaluated their potential in anticancer activity.

Based on that, and as a part of our ongoing research in developing new potentially bioactive heterocyclic compounds, this study describes the synthesis of new 4-fluoro-5-(substituted phenyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-nitro-phenoles (6) and their corresponding 5-fluoro-6-(substituted phenyl-piperazin-1-yl)-benzoxazoles (7) functionalized with both piperazine and fluorine moieties.

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. Chemistry

A new series of benzoxazole derivatives was synthesized using a multi-step protocol that involved regioselective nitration and piperazinylation, followed by a one-pot in-situ reductive cyclization step as depicted in Scheme 1.

To start with, the commercially available 3-chloro-4-fluorophenol (8) was nitrated using mild nitration conditions. The choice of a mild nitration step was effective and led to a shorter synthetic procedure compared to the use of strong acidic conditions. In fact, nitration yielded 5-chloro-4-fluoro-2-nitrophenol (9) and its 3-chloro-4-fluoro-2,6-dintirophenol (10) counterpart. Carefully controlling the reaction temperature, we were able to isolate 9 in a 60% yield after purification using flash column chromatography.

Subsequently, the piperazinylation of 9 using excess substituted phenyl N-piperazine yielded the key intermediates 6a–j. Changing the solvent from dimethylsulfoxide to toluene simplified the work and considerably improved the yield up to 83% for 6a, 6b, 6d, 6e, 6g, 6i, and 6j as shown in

Table 1. Data for the synthesis of benzoxazoles and their precursors.

Compound	R	Time (h)	Yield * %	Solvent **	Compound	Time (h)	Yield * %	Solvent **
6a	H	5.5	72	Toluene	7a	4	71	Benzene
6b	p-CH3	2	73	Toluene	7b	3	53	Benzene
6c	p-OH	24	37	Chlorobenzene	7c	4	63	Benzene
6d	p-F	2	73	Toluene	7d	2.5	51	Benzene
6e	p-OCH3	1.5	27	Toluene	7e	1	70	Benzene
6f	o-OH	3	71	Chlorobenzene	7f	1.5	55	Benzene
6g	o-F	2.5	83	Toluene	7g	2	74	Benzene
6h	m-OH	24	28	Chlorobenzene	7h	2	74	Benzene
6i	m-OCH3	2	73	Toluene	7i	1	77	Benzene
6j	3,4-Cl	5	33	Toluene	7j	1	75	Benzene

* The yield was calculated after purification by crystallization or column chromatography. ** Solvent at reflux temperature.

. For the preparation of 6c, 6f, and 6h chlorobenzene was the solvent of choice, due to poor solubility of the corresponding aryl-piperazines in toluene nonetheless using chlorobenzene required a longer reaction time. Purification using column chromatography was required to remove unreacted N-piperazines.

The cyclization of intermediates (6a–j) was achieved by an indium-mediated reaction using indium/acetic acid followed by addition of trimethyl orthoaceate to form the corresponding benzoxazole derivatives (7a–j). This one-pot, reductive cyclization simplified and shortened the synthetic procedure and provided yields ranging from good to very good (53%–75%) after recrystallization as shown in Table 1. All the newly synthesized compounds were characterized using spectroscopic techniques. High-resolution mass spectrometry shows the correct molecular ion peaks. The formation of 3-chloro-4-fluoro-2,6-dinitrophenol (10) as a byproduct during the nitration step simultaneously with 9 was confirmed by ¹H-NMR in which one and two types of ¹H signals were evident in the spectra of 10 and 9, respectively. In the ¹H-NMR spectra of compounds (7a–j), the methyl proton signals appeared as singlets around δ 2.54–2.60 ppm. The H-4 protons were the most deshielded protons, showing a large ortho coupling with the adjacent fluorine J_H-F = 11.2–12.0 Hz compared with H-7 meta coupling J_H-F = 5.0–8.0 Hz. Piperazinyl protons resonated as broad singlets around δ 3.10–3.36 ppm. The disappearance of the exchangeable signals in intermediates (6a–j) around δ 10.40–10.80 ppm confirmed the successful cyclization to benzoxazoles. In ¹³C-NMR spectra of compounds (7a–j), the most deshielded carbon was C-2, resonating around δ 163.0–164.6 ppm. The methyl carbons appear in the upfield region around δ 13.5–14.6 ppm and the piperazine methylene carbons resonated around δ 48.0–52.0 ppm.

2.2. Cytotoxicity

The cytotoxicity of prepared benzoxazoles (7a–j) and intermediates (6a–j and 9) were measured by applying the CellTiter-Glo^® luminescent cell proliferation assay (G755A, Promega, Madison, WI, USA). This method permits the determination of viable cells numbers in the culture based on quantitation of the ATP present, which denotes the presence of metabolically active cells [17]. In vitro cytotoxicity analysis was overall performed following the protocol as described in “Guidance Document on Using in Vitro Data to Estimate in Vivo Starting Doses for Acute Toxicity Based on Recommendations” [18]. Human A-549 cells are human lung cancer epithelial cells, which were chosen as the tumor model, whereas the HepaRG™ cell line is a classic hepatic cell line that retains many characteristics of primary human hepatocytes. HepaRG™ cells are terminally differentiated. In order to obtain CT₅₀ values and detect a dose-dependent impact for each of the twelve test compounds, concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10, 50, 100, 250, and 500 µM were analyzed with both cell lines, and doxorubicine (IC₅₀ = 5.1 μM for HepaRG™ cells) was used as standard.

As shown in

Table 2. Cell viability shown in % for benzoxazole derivatives and their intermediates.

Concentration (C) µM
Liver Cells, Hepatocytes									Lung Cancer Cells
Compound	0	0.1	1	10	50	100	250	500	0	0.1	1	10	50	100	250	500
6a	100	86	97	112	90	76			100	97	104	64	61	58
6b	100	107	123	120	97	96			100	99	100	68	65
6c	100	95	101	110	101	89			100	104	103	102	94
6d	100	94	87	101	57	62	44	13	100	103	111	78	58	54	46	34
6e	100	107	110	104	74	79			100	101	104	96	71
6f	100	105	104	110	76				100	97	100	93	60	46
6g	100	110	109	112	87				100	96	96	62	51	42
6h	100	117	109	108	83	58			100	106	106	105	87
6i	100	79	95	99					100	95	93	96	69
6j	100	119	115	81	102	108			100	98	94	65	62
7a	100	101	97	94					100	101	96	90	60
7b	100	105	99	91	63	60			100	92	94	92	87	75
7c	100	98	107	101	93				100	92	97	101	90	83
7d	100	91	94	85					100	98	98	87	87	82
7e	100	107	108	91	71				100	93	92	75	74	68
7f	100	106	97	86	59	60	53	54	100	103	99	91	91	95	83	63
7g	100	96	106	87					100	96	92	92	73	63
7h	100	100	102	99					100	100	93	97	95	90
7i	100	100	102	91					100	105	102	88	76	75
7j	100	100	90	85	65	27	7	7	100	98	94	81	70	47	28

, we observed visible solubility problems for some compounds at concentrations of 50 µM, 100 µM, and 250 µM, while 6d and 7f were completely soluble at all concentrations. Therefore, a CT₅₀ value of ~50 µM could only be obtained for 6d, which shows equal toxicity to both cell lines, indicating a non-differential behavior.

Since the majority of test compound solutions with concentrations above 50 µM precipitated in cell-culture media, we performed cytotoxicity assays for healthy and cancer cells at 50 µM. For compounds 6i, 7a, 7d, 7g, 7h, 7i, and 7j, it was not possible to draw any conclusion because of the precipitation problem.

Compared to healthy control cells, compounds 6a, 6b, 6g, and 6j showed significant increased toxicity in lung cancer A-549 cells >30%–40%. Interestingly, two compounds were more toxic to healthy cells compared with lung cancer cells 7b and 7j.

Even at concentrations as low as 10 µM, 6a and 6g killed ~40% of lung cancer cells, whereas all compounds were non-toxic to healthy cells. At a 10-µM concentration, nearly none of the tested compounds was toxic to healthy hepatocytes, but at least four compounds (6a, 6b, 6g, and 6j) were highly toxic to lung cancer cells, killing 30%–40% of all cancer cells at this low concentration. Concentrations below 10 µM were not toxic at all, indicating a small activity window, which has to be further extended through improving efficacy in order to obtain useful compounds.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. Chemistry

Reagents were obtained from commercial sources and used without further purification. All solvents were purchased from Sigma Aldrich (Munich, Germany) except for benzene and chlorobenzene, which were purchased from BDH. The staring materials, 3-chloro-4-fluorophenol and trimethyl orthoacetate, were purchased from Alfa Aesar (Munich, Germany).

The newly synthesized compounds were characterized using IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, HRMS, and a melting point. IR spectra (4000–400 cm⁻¹) were recorded as KBr discs on a Perkin–Elmer Spectrum BX FTIR spectrophotometer (Akron, OH, USA). The ¹H-NMR spectra were measured on Varian (Palo Alto, CA, USA) 400 MHz, and ¹³C-NMR spectra were recorded at 100 MHz using TMS as an internal standard assigned as zero ppm, and chemical shifts δ were given in part per million (ppm) downfield from TMS. The EI and FAB high-resolution mass spectra were recorded on a Finnigan MAT 312 mass spectrometer (ThermoFisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) Melting points were determined on an SMP 10 Stuart Scientific apparatus (Keison Products, Essex, UK). The reactions were monitored by thin layer chromatography (TLC) using silica gel plates, and the components were visualized by UV light. Flash column chromatography was carried out using silica gel 60 (70–230 mesh) (Aldrich, Munich, Germany) as the stationary phase.

5-chloro-4-fluoro-2-nitrophenol (9) and 3-chloro-4-fluoro-2,6-dintirophenol (10): for the nitrating solution, 15% HNO₃/AcOH was prepared and kept at 0 °C. 3-chloro-4-fluorophenol (8) (5.0 g, 34 mmol) was added in small portions to the solution and stirred for 1 h at 0 °C. The reaction mixture poured into an ice-water bath, filtered by suction, washed thoroughly with water, and then dried and purified by column chromatography 10% MeOH/CH₂Cl₂.

5-Chloro-4-fluoro-2-nitro-phenol (9) (yield 60%). m.p.: 82–83 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3471, 1629, 1530, 1330, 1247, 1150 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 10.40 (bs, 1H, O-H), 7.91 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, H-6), 7.26 (d, J = 12.0 Hz, H-3). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 152.2(C), 151.7 (C), 150.0 (C), 132.5 (C), 121.8 (CH), 112.1 (CH). MS (ESI) [M] m/z calcd for C₆H₃ClFNO₃: 190.98; found: 189.75.

3-Chloro-4-fluoro-2,6-dintirophenol (10) (yield 20%). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 10.60 (bs, 1H, O-H), 8.11 (d, J = 9.2 Hz, H-3). MS (ESI) [M] m/z calcd for C₆H₂ClFN₂O₅: 235.96; found: 234.79.

3.1.1. General Procedure for Synthesis of 4-Fluoro-5-(substitutedphenyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-nitro-phenol (6a, 6b, 6d, 6e, 6g, 6i, 6j)

5-Chloro-4-fluoro-2-nitro-phenol (9) (0.500 g, 2.61 mmol) was dissolved in toluene (5 mL), and the corresponding aryl piperazine (13.1 mmol) was then added and refluxed for 2–6 h. Afterwards, water was added and extracted with dichloromethane (3 × 30 mL), and the organic layer was concentrated, dried over sodium sulfate, and purified by flash column chromatography.

4-Fluoro-2-nitro-5-(4-phenyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenol (6a) (yield 72%, 40% hexane/CH₂Cl₂). m.p.: 197–198 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3377, 1634, 1508, 1388, 1225 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 10.90 (bs, 1H, O-H), 7.74 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H, H-3), 6.46 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H, H-6), 3.52 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.34 (s, 2H, piperazine). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 153.9 (C), 150.6 (C), 148.3 (C), 145.9 (C), 129.3 (CH), 120.7 (C), 116.5 (CH), 112.0 (CH), 111.8 (CH), 105.2 (CH), 49.31 (CH₂), 49.26 (CH₂). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₆H₁₆FN₃O₃: 317.1176; found: 317.1163.

4-Fluoro-2-nitro-5-(4-p-tolyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenol (6b) (yield 73%, CH₂Cl₂). m.p.: 178–179 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3354, 1631, 1511, 1390, 1220 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 10.84 (bs, 1H, O-H), 7.68 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H, H-3), 6.83 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H, H-6), 3.46 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.22 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.23 (s, 1H, CH₃-Ph). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 154.0 (C), 148.4 (C), 148.3 (C), 145.9 (C), 129.9 (CH), 124.8 (C), 124.7 (C), 117.0 (CH), 112.0 (CH), 105.3 (CH), 49.8 (CH₂), 49.2 (CH₂), 20.5 (CH₃). HRMS (ESI) [M + H⁺] m/z calcd for C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₃: 332.1405; found: 332.1407.

4-Fluoro-5-[4-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-nitro-phenol (6d) (yield 73%, CH₂Cl₂). m.p.: 151–152 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3309, 3103, 1637, 1535, 1244 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 10.88 (bs, 1H, O-H), 7.74 (d, J = 13.6 Hz, 1H, H-3), 6.47 (d, J = 7.60 Hz, 1H, H-6), 3.51 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.25 (s, 2H, piperazine). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz CDCl3) δ (ppm): 158.9 (C), 156.5 (C), 153.9 (C), 148.3 (C), 146.0 (C), 124.9 (C), 118.5 (CH), 115.7 (CH), 111.8 (CH), 105.3 (CH), 50.2 (CH₂), 49.3 (CH₂). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₆H₁₅F₂N₃O₃: 335.1081; found: 335.1066.

4-Fluoro-5-[4-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-nitro-phenol (6e) (yield 27%, CH₂Cl₂). m.p.: 202–204 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3448, 2933, 1638, 1515, 1225 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 10.84 (bs, 1H, O-H), 7.68 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H, H-3), 6.41 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H, H-6), 3.72 (s, 1H, OCH₃), 3.47 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.17 (s, 2H, piperazine). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 153.9 (C), 148.3 (C), 145.9 (C), 122.5 (C), 121.4 (C), 119.2 (C), 114.7 (CH), 112.0 (CH), 111.8 (CH), 105.5 (CH), 55.6 (CH₃), 51.4 (CH₂), 49.0 (CH₂). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₄: 347.1281; found: 347.1264.

4-Fluoro-5-[4-(2-fluoro-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-nitro-phenol (6g) (yield 83%, CH₂Cl₂). m.p.: 180–181 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3457, 2928, 1636, 1508, 1265 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 10.82 (bs, 1H, O-H), 7.69 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H, H-3), 6.42 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H, H-6), 3.51 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.25 (s, 2H, piperazine). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 157.0 (C), 154.5 (C), 154.0 (C), 148.5 (C), 145.9 (C), 139.3 (C), 124.6 (CH), 123.3 (CH), 119.1 (CH), 116.2 (CH), 111.8 (CH), 105.4 (CH), 50.2 (CH₂), 49.5 (CH₂). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₆H₁₅F₂N₃O₃: 335.1081; found: 335.1070.

4-Fluoro-5-[4-(3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-nitro-phenol (6i) (yield 73%, CH₂Cl₂). m.p.: 148–149 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3426, 2937, 1629, 1504, 1209 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 10.83 (bs, 1H, O-H), 7.68 (d, J = 13.6 Hz, 1H, H-3), 6.52 (d, J =8.0 Hz, 1H, H-6), 3.74 (s, 1H, OCH₃), 3.45 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.28 (s, 2H, piperazine). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 160.6 (C), 153.9 (C), 151.9 (C), 148.3 (C), 145.9 (C), 130.0 (CH), 124.8 (C), 112.0 (CH), 111.8 (CH), 109.1 (CH), 105.2 (CH), 103.0 (CH), 55.2 (CH₃), 49.2 (CH₂), 49.1 (CH₂). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₄: 347.1281; found: 347.1297.

5-[4-(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-4-fluoro-2-nitro-phenol (6j) (yield 33%, CH₂Cl₂). m.p.: 211–213 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3448, 2924, 1634, 1513, 1207 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 10.80 (bs, 1H, O-H), 7.70 (d, J = 13.6 Hz, 1H, H-3), 6.42 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H, H-6), 3.49 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.30 (s, 2H, piperazine). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 153.9 (C), 149.8 (C), 148.3 (C), 148.0 (C), 145.9 (C), 133.0 (C), 130.7 (CH), 120.1 (C), 117.9 (CH), 115.9 (CH), 112.1 (CH), 105.4 (CH), 49.0 (CH₂), 48.8 (CH₂). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₆H₁₄C_l2FN₃O₃: 385.0396; found: 385.0374.

3.1.2. General Procedure for Synthesis 5-[4-(o/m/p-Hydroxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-4-fluoro-2-nitro-phenol (6c, 6f, 6h)

5-Chloro-4-fluoro-2-nitro-phenol (9) (0.250 g, 1.31 mmol) was dissolved in chlorobenzene (5 mL), substituted phenyl-piperazine (6.53 mmol) was added and refluxed overnight. The reaction mixture was extracted with water and dichloromethane, and the organic layer was concentrated and purified by flash column chromatography.

4-Fluoro-5-[4-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-nitro-phenol (6c) (yield 37%, 10% EtOAc/CH₂Cl₂). m.p.: 218–219 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3475, 3117, 1631, 1515, 1242, cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃ with 2 drops of CD₃OD) δ (ppm): 10.81 (bs, 1H, O-H), 7.67 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H, H-3), 6.42 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H, H-6), 3.46 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.13 (s, 2H, piperazine). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃ with 2 drops of CD₃OD) δ (ppm): 152.8 (C), 147.5 (C), 147.4 (C), 147.3 (C), 144.9 (C), 123.8 (C), 118.5 (CH), 115.0 (CH), 110.7 (CH), 104.4 (CH), 50.4 (CH₂), 50.4 (CH₂). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₆H₁₆FN₃O₄: 333.1125; found: 331.1141.

4-Fluoro-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-nitro-phenol (6f) (yield 71%, CH₂Cl₂). m.p.: 176–178 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3452, 2923, 1636, 1520, 1227 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 10.81 (bs, 1H, O-H), 7.70 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H, H-3), 6.43 (d, J =8.0 Hz, 1H, H-6), 3.45 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.99 (s, 2H, piperazine). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO) δ (ppm): 152.9 (C), 150.6 (C), 147.5 (C), 145.2 (C), 139.7 (C), 126.0 (C), 123.7 (CH), 116.1 (CH), 119.9 (CH), 119.3 (CH), 112.6 (CH), 106.5 (CH), 50.3 (CH₂), 49.7 (CH₂). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₆H₁₆FN₃O₄: 333.1125; found: 333.1111.

4-Fluoro-5-[4-(3-hydroxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-nitro-phenol (6h) (yield 28%, 25% EtOAc/CH₂Cl₂). m.p.: 207–208 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3448, 2924, 1636, 1506, 1260 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 10.83 (bs, 1H, O-H), 7.69 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H, H-3), 7.11 (m, 1H, H-6), 3.46 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.28 (s, 2H, piperazine). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO) δ (ppm): 158.5 (C), 152.7 (C), 147.5 (C), 147.3 (C), 145.1 (C), 130.1 (CH), 126.1 (C), 112.9 (CH), 107.2 (CH), 107.0 (CH), 106.4 (CH), 103.0 (CH), 49.4 (CH₂), 48.4 (CH₂). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₆H₁₆FN₃O₄: 333.1125; found: 333.1131.

3.1.3. General Procedure for Synthesis of 5-Fluoro-6-(substitutedphenyl-piperazin-1-yl)-benzoxazoles (7a–j)

Fluoro-5-(substituted phenyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-nitro-phenol (6a–j) (1 mmol) was added to a mixture of indium powder (8 mmol) and acetic acid (20 mmol) in benzene (2 mL). Trimethyl orthoacetate (8 mmol) in benzene (2 mL) was then added to the reaction mixture, stirred, and refluxed for 1–4 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate, extracted with dichloromethane (3 × 10 mL), and washed with water followed by saturated sodium chloride solution (brine). The organic extracts were dried over sodium sulfate anhydrous and concentrated using a rotary evaporator. The residue was then recrystallized from absolute ethanol to yield the corresponding benzoxazole.

5-Fluoro-2-methyl-6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-benzo[d]oxazole (7a) (yield 71%). m.p.: 153–154 °C. FTIR (KBr): 2848, 1638, 1242 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 7.27 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.06 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 1H, H-7), 3.35 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.22 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.54 (s, 3H, CH₃). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 163.1 (C), 153.9 (C), 151.5 (C), 150.0 (C), 137.2 (C), 134.9 (C), 128.2 (CH), 119.3 (CH), 115.4 (CH), 105.4 (CH), 99.5 (CH), 50.2 (CH₂), 48.6 (CH₂), 13.5 (CH₃). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₈H₁₈FN₃O: 311.1434; found: 311.1423.

5-Fluoro-2-methyl-6-(4-p-tolyl-piperazin-1-yl)-benzooxazole (7b) (yield 53%). m.p.: 168–170 °C. FTIR (KBr) 1636, 1265 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 7.27 (d, J =11.6 Hz, 1H, H-4), 7.06 (m, 1H, H-7), 3.28 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.19 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.54 (s, 3H, CH₃), 2.23 (s, 3H, CH₃-Ph). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 164.1 (C), 152.5 (C), 149.0 (C), 147.5 (C), 138.2 (C), 135.9 (C), 135.8 (C), 129.7 (CH), 116.8 (CH), 106.2 (CH), 100.5 (CH), 51.2 (CH₂), 50.1(CH₂), 20.5 (CH₃), 14.6 (CH₃). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₉H₂₀FN₃O: 325.1590; found: 325.1577.

4-[4-(5-Fluoro-2-methyl-benzooxazol-6-yl)-piperazin-1-yl]-phenol (7c) (yield 63%). m.p.: 188–191 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3466, 2937, 1640, 1267 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) δ (ppm): 8.90 (bs, 1H, O-H), 7.48 (d, J = 12.0 Hz, 1H, H-4), 7.38 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H, H-7), 3.36 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.10 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.54 (s, 3H, CH₃). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO) δ (ppm): 164.6 (C), 154.6 (C), 152.2 (C), 147.6 (C), 144.5 (C), 138.4 (C), 135.5 (C), 118.5 (CH), 115.9 (CH), 106.5 (CH), 101.6 (CH), 51.3 (CH₂), 50.6 (CH₂), 14.6 (CH₃). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₈H₁₈FN₃O₂: 327.1383; found: 327.1391.

5-Fluoro-6-[4-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-methyl-benzooxazole (7d) (yield 51%). m.p.: 148–150 °C. FTIR (KBr): 2928, 1640, 1267 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 7.27 (d, J = 11.6 Hz, 1H, H-4), 7.06 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H, H-7), 3.20 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.25 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.54 (s, 3H, CH₃). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 164.3 (C), 154.9 (C), 152.2 (C), 147.6 (C), 144.5 (C), 138.4 (C), 135.5 (C), 118.5 (CH), 115.9 (CH), 106.5 (CH), 101.6 (CH), 51.6 (CH₂), 51.0 (CH₂), 14.6 (CH₃). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₈H₁₇F₂N₃O: 329.1340; found: 329.1352.

5-Fluoro-6-[4-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-methyl-benzooxazole (7e): (yield 70%). m.p.: 156–157 °C. FTIR (KBr): 2946, 1636, 1236 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 7.27 (d, J = 11.6 Hz, 1H, H-4), 7.06 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H, H-7), 3.72 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 3.21 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.20 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.54 (s, 3H, CH₃). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 164.3 (C), 153.9 (C), 151.5 (C), 146.5 (C), 144.2 (C), 137.2 (C), 134.8 (C), 117.6 (CH), 113.5 (CH), 105.2 (CH), 99.5 (CH), 54.5 (CH₃), 50.2 (CH₂), 50.0 (CH₂), 13.5 (CH₃). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₉H₂₀FN₃O₂: 341.1540; found: 341.1548.

2-[4-(5-Fluoro-2-methyl-benzooxazol-6-yl)-piperazin-1-yl]-phenol (7f) (yield 55%). m.p.: 172–173 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3453, 2928, 1636, 1265 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ (ppm): 7.28 (d, J = 11.2 Hz, 1H, H-4), 6.94 (d, J = 5.0 Hz, 1H, H-7), 3.24 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.10 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.55 (s, 3H, CH₃). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 163.2 (C), 153.9 (C), 151.5 (C), 150.4 (C), 146.5 (C), 137.0 (C), 134.9 (C), 125.7 (CH), 120.5 (CH), 119.2 (CH), 113.2 (CH), 105.5 (CH), 99.6 (CH), 51.6 (CH₂), 50.8 (CH₂), 13.6 (CH₃). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₈H₁₈FN₃O₂: 327.1383; found: 327.1369.

5-Fluoro-6-(4-(2-fluorophenyl)-piperazin-1-yl)-2-methylbenzo[d]oxazole (7g) (yield 74%). m.p.: 157–158 °C. FTIR (KBr): 2834, 1634, 1271 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) δ (ppm): 7.49 (d, J = 12.0 Hz, 1H, H-4), 7.42 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H, H-7), 3.36 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.15 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.54 (s, 3H, CH₃). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO) δ (ppm): 164.7 (C), 156.7 (C), 154.4 (C), 147.6 (C), 140.1 (C), 138.4 (C), 135.7 (C), 125.4 (CH), 123.0 (CH), 119.8 (CH), 116.4 (CH), 106.4 (CH), 101.8 (CH), 51.3 (CH₂), 50.6 (CH₂), 14.6 (CH₃). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₈H₁₇F₂N₃O: 329.1340; found: 329.1353.

3-[4-(5-Fluoro-2-methyl-benzooxazol-6-yl)-piperazin-1-yl]-phenol (7h) (yield 74%). m.p.: 211–213 °C. FTIR (KBr): 3448, 2941, 1622, 1278 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 7.28 (d, J = 11.6 Hz, 1H, H-4), 7.12 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, H-7), 3.35 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.22 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.55 (s, 3H, CH₃). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO) δ (ppm): 164.7 (C), 158.5 (C), 154.6 (C), 152.7 (C), 147.6 (C), 138.4 (C), 135.6 (C), 130.1 (CH), 107.2 (CH), 106.9 (CH), 106.2 (CH), 103.0 (CH), 101.8 (CH), 51.1 (CH₂), 48.9 (CH₂), 14.5 (CH₃). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₈H₁₈FN₃O₂: 327.1383; found: 327.1368.

5-Fluoro-6-[4-(3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-methyl-benzooxazole (7i) (yield 77%). m.p.: 124–125 °C. FTIR (KBr): 2942, 1636, 1280 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 7.33 (d, J = 11.2 Hz, 1H, H-4), 7.11 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H, H-7), 3.80 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 3.38 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.24 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.60 (s, 3H, CH₃). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 164.2 (C), 160.6 (C), 154.9 (C), 152.5 (C), 147.5 (C), 138.2 (C), 135.8 (C), 129.9 (CH), 109.1 (CH), 106.2 (CH), 104.8 (CH), 102.8 (CH), 100.5 (CH), 55.2 (CH₃), 51.2 (CH₂), 49.4 (CH₂), 14.5 (CH₃). HRMS (EI) m/z calcd for C₁₉H₂₀FN₃O₂: 341.1540; found: 341.1528.

6-[4-(3,4-Dichloro-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-5-fluoro-2-methyl-benzooxazole (7j) (yield 75%). m.p.: 147–148 °C. FTIR (KBr): 2928, 1638, 1272 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 7.28 (d, J = 11.6 Hz, 1H, H-4), 7.06 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H, H-7), 3.31 (s, 2H, piperazine), 3.17 (s, 2H, piperazine), 2.55 (s, 3H, CH₃). ¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 163.3 (C), 153.9 (C), 151.5 (C), 149.3 (C), 146.5 (C), 136.7 (C), 135.2 (C), 131.9 (C), 129.5 (CH), 116.7 (CH), 114.7 (CH), 105.3 (CH), 99.6 (CH), 49.8 (CH₂), 48.1 (CH₂), 13.6 (CH₃). HRMS (ESI) [M + H⁺] m/z calcd for C₁₈H₁₇C_l2FN₃O: 380.0727; found: 380.0729.

3.2. Cytotoxicity

Human cell cultures: Hepatocytes (HepaRG^TM cells) were obtained from Life Technologies, and were cultivated in William’s E Medium (Gibco, Life Technologies, Waltham, MA, USA) and supplemented with 1x GlutaMAX™ plus 1x HepaRG^TM General Purpose Medium Supplement in 25-cm² or 75-cm² flasks (TPP, Trasadingen, Switzerland) at 37 °C and 5% CO₂. Lung cancer epithelial cells A-549 were propagated in Epilife Medium (Gibco, Life Technologies; MEPICF) and combined with CaCl₂ and 1x-growth-supplement containing penicillin and streptomycin (Gibco, Life Technologies). For sub-culturing, cells were split at a ratio of 1:4 to 1:8. For cryopreservation, cells were frozen in 10% DMSO in liquid nitrogen.

Human cytotoxicity assay: Human hepatocytes or human lung carcinoma cells were seeded into sterile black clear-bottomed polystyrene Corning^® CellBind^® 96-well plates (Munich, Germany) at a density of 20,000 cells/well after calculating cell numbers from trypsinized samples in a classical Neubauer Improved hemocytometer (VWR, Munich, Germany). The cells were grown for 24 h at 37 °C in a 5% CO₂ atmosphere in Epilife medium (keratinocytes) or William′s E medium (hepatocytes). After a 24-h recovery period, media were removed from the wells by aspiration. The cells were then immediately exposed to the respective test compounds or reference antibiotics (prepared in advance in 100 µL of the same media) for 24 h 37 °C with 5% CO₂. The concentration tested ranged from 0.1 µM to 500 µM (0.1 µM, 1 µM, 10 µM, 50 µM, 100 µM, 250 µM, and 500 µM) and was formulated as a 100× concentrated stock each, resulting in a final constant DMSO concentration of 1% per 100-µL sample volume. Test series were each performed in triplicate, and additionally included a vehicle reference (DMSO only) plus another internal control for evaluating overall assay performance. Additionally, cells were visually examined under a light microscope for any morphological abnormalities relative to the untreated cells. Subsequently, cell viability, as an indicator of potential cytotoxicity, was measured by applying the CellTiter-Glo^® luminescent cell proliferation assay (G755A, Promega, Madison, WI, USA). This method permits the determination of the number of viable cells in culture based on quantitation of the ATP present, which denotes the presence of metabolically active cells. To this end, 100 µL (equal to the volume of culture medium) of the kit-provided CellTiter-Glo^® reagent (reconstituted by transferring the thawed CellTiter-Glo^® buffer to the lyophilized enzyme and substrate mixture) was directly added to each well with a repetitive dispensing pipette. The contents were then mixed for 2 min at room temperature on an orbital minishaker (IKA^® MS3 digital, Staufen, Germany) at 450 rpm to induce efficient cell lysis, and then further incubated for 10 min at room temperature for stabilization of the resultant luminescent signal. Luminescence was recorded using a compatible multimode reader (GloMax^® Multi Detection Platform, Promega Corporation, Madison, WI, USA) with its embedded, preset CellTiter-Glo^® parameters (integration time of 0.5 s). Output values were expressed as percent cell viability compared with the vehicle (DMSO) control, and EC₅₀ values were calculated from the dose-response curves via nonlinear regression (version 7, Graphpad Prism Software Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA).

4. Conclusions

A novel series of 5-fluoro-2-methyl-6-(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)benzoxazoles (7a–j) incorporating both fluorine and piperazine were prepared in good yields. Initial cytotoxicity analysis of some of the intermediates—4-fluoro-5-(substituted phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-nitrophenols (6a–j)—showed promising activities and cell type-dependent cytotoxicity. Although the best activity achieved is still too low, the lung cancer sensitive pattern is a crucial property underlining a therapeutically interesting window, which can be further investigated. The poor solubility of some benzoxazoles could be improved by replacing the aryl-piperazine with N-methylpiperazine at position 6 and replacing the methyl moiety at position 2 with a carbamate functional group. Manipulating the benzoxazole structure is now under intensive investigation in our laboratory, and the results will be published in due course. Finally, at least two compounds (6d and 6g) can be used as starting points for the development of selective anti-cancer compounds in the future.