Phthalazine-triones: Calix[4]arene-assisted synthesis using green solvents and their anticancer activities against human cancer cells

Abstract Fourteen phthalazine-triones bearing different substituents at C-4 position were synthesized through multicomponent reactions (MCR) by using phthalhydrazide, dimedone and diferent aldehydes as starting materials, p -sulfonic acid calix[4]arene as catalyst and ethyl lactate as solvent under microwave irradiation. Compounds 7–16 were obtained in excellent to moderate yields (94–51%) in only 10 min of reaction using this methodology. The antiproliferative activity against cancer cells was disclosed, for the first time, for synthesized compounds. The capacity of all compounds to inhibit cancer cells growth was dependent on the histological origin of cells. Compound 20 was active against more than one strain.