We report the design and synthesis of 1-aroyl-2-(alkenyl/aryl)idene hydrazines as hybrid molecules derived from mefenamic acid and substituted hydrazones. A number of compounds based on this new scaffold were prepared in good yields. The key intermediate N-acylhydrazine, prepared from mefenamic acid, was coupled with a variety of aldehydes under conventional as well as microwave irradiation conditions. The second approach, that requires short reaction time, can be carried out under a solvent free condition and does not require the use of an acid catalyst or solid support. Some of the compounds synthesized showed cytotoxic activities in vitro.
mefenamic acid; hydrazine; N-acylhydrazine; microwave; solvent-free synthesis; cytotoxicity
