Design, synthesis, and toward a side-ring optimization of tricyclic thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones and their effect on melanin synthesis in murine B16 cells

Herein, we report the synthesis of 48 novel 3-sulfonylamides containing a tricyclic thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one moiety, and their influence on melanin synthesis in murine B16 cells. All target sulfonylamides were synthesized through key intermediate 3-nitro-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones using three types of ipso-nitration reactions. In this case, we converted the pyrido[1,2-a]- fragment of the thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine moiety to pyrrolo[1,2-a]- and azepino[1,2-a]- side-rings in order to evaluate the bioactivities of the synthesized derivatives for a structure activity-relationships point of view. The obtained results suggest that some of the selected compounds revealed a promising influence on melanin synthesis in murine B16 cells and may serve as lead compounds for further drug discovery and development.