Innovative and eco-friendly electro-organic synthesis of carbazole derivatives and evaluation of their antiviral and anticancer potential

This study presents an innovative and green method for the efficient synthesis of carbazole derivatives 4(a-n) through electrocyclization intermolecular C–N bond coupling approach (Buchwald–Hartwig amination) utilizing Grignard reagent. This electro-organic synthesis demonstrated remarkable efficiency in synthesizing carbazole derivatives 4(a-n) from bromobenzene 1(a-c) and nitrobenzene 2(a-n) using GO-4t-L-Hyp@Mg electrode and [Etmim]Cl Ionic Liquid (IL)/urea as a green and effective deep eutectic electrolyte carrying Domino reaction (C-H activation and C–N bond coupling reaction) in excellent yields varying 88% to 96%. The derivatives 4(a-n) were characterized by ¹ H and ¹³ C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, melting point analysis and CHN analysis to confirm their structures. All the carbazole derivatives were screened for their anticancer and antiviral potential. Compounds 4(c-j) and 4n showed promising anticancer activity against human colon cancer (HCT-116) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines, although they remained less potent than doxorubicin, while compounds 4(d-j) demonstrated good anti-HIV activity as compared to zidovudine (AZT). Compound 4d and 4i can be regarded as a promising candidate for further optimization as an antiviral and anticancer leads respectively, for the development of therapeutics for the wellbeing of human health. This novel electro-organic methodology represents a promising sustainable strategy for producing carbazole derivatives as promising therapeutics.