Abstract:
The present invention provides 3-arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of formula (A) as potential anticancer agents against sixty human cancer cell lines. R 1 ═H, OH, OCH 3 ; R 2 ═H, OH, CH 3 , OCH 3 , NO 2 ; R 3 ═H, OH, OCH 3 , F, Cl; R 2 +R 3 =—OCH 2 O—; R 4 ═H, OH, CH 3 , OCH 3 ; R 5 ═H, OH, CH 3 , OCH 3 ; R 6 ═H, OCH 3 .

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     
         
         
           
             This application is a 371 U.S. National Phase Application of PCT/IN2011/000228, filed Mar. 31, 2011, which claims priority to Indian Patent Application No. 391/DEL/2011, filed Feb. 15, 2011, the disclosures of each of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
           
         
       
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of general formula A as potential anticancer agents and a process for the preparation thereof. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     The structural formula of the representative compounds of 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of general formula A are: 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1) a nuclear enzyme bounded to chromatin involved in a variety of physiological functions related to genomic repair, including DNA replication and repair, cellular proliferation and differentiation, and apoptosis. Inhibition of these PARP enzyme results in genomic dysfunction and finally leading to cell death (Ferraris, D. V.  J. Med. Chem.  2010, 53, 4561). 
     Quinazolinone (1) is a naturally occurring alkaloid as well as a core structural subunit in a growing class of bioactive natural products and synthetic compounds (Michael, J. P.  Nat. Prod. Rep.  2004, 21, 650” and also D&#39;yakonov, A. L.; Telezhenetskaya, M. V.  Chem. Nat. Comput.  1997, 33, 221). Recently various quinazolinone compounds were identified as dual inhibitors of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and the multidrug resistance associated protein (MRP1). These proteins cause resistance in tumor cells hence inhibition of these proteins were useful in cancer chemotherapy (Wang, S.; Ryder, H.; Pretswell, I.; Depledge, P.; Milton, J.; Hancox, T. C.; Dale, I.; Dangerfield, W.; Charlton, P.; Faint, R.; Dodda, R.; Hassan, S.  Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.  2002, 12, 571). Recently a library of quinazollinone compounds containing 2-styryl quinazolinone compounds possessing a defining structural feature, containing 3-substituted aliphatic chain bearing basic nitrogen, exhibiting cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines. (Liu, J. F.; Kaselj, M.; Isome, Y.; Ye, P.; Sargent, K.; Sprague, K.; Chemak, D.; Wilson, C. J.; Si, Y.; Yohannes, D.; Ng, S. C.  J Comb Chem.  2006, 8, 7-10). Various substituted 2-phenyl-4-quinazolinones and 2,3-dihydro-2-phenyl-4-quinazolinones displayed highly selective cytotoxicity against the ovarian cancer 1A9 and P-gp resistant KB-VIN cell lines and these compounds acts as tubulin polymerization inhibitiors. (Hour, M. J.; Huang, L. J.; Kuo, S. C.; Xia, Y.; Bastow, K.; Nakanishi, Y.; Hamel, E.; Lee, K. H.  J. Med. Chem.  2000, 43, 4479). Moreover a new class of 4(3H)-quinazolinones 2-styryl substituted derivatives (2) form an important component of pharmacologically active compounds which exhibit anticancer activity by inhibition of tubulin polymerization. (Jiang, J. B.; Hesson, D. P.; Dusak, B. A.; Dexter, D. L.; Kang, G. J.; Hamel, E.  J. Med. Chem.  1990, 33, 1721″ and also Raffa, D.; Edler, M. C.; Daidone, G.; Maggio, B.; Merikech, M.; Plescia, S.; Schillaci, D.; Bai, R.; Hamel, E.  Eur. J. Med. Chem.  2004, 39, 299). Whereas a novel series containing 2-methyl quinazolinones and 2-aryl quinazolinones act as inhibitors of DNA repair enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. (Griffin, R. J.; Srinivasan, S.; Bowman, K.; Calvert, A. H.; Curtin, N. J.; Newell, D. R.; Pemberton, L. C.; Golding, B. T.  J. Med. Chem.  1998, 41, 5247). 
     Recently a series of 3-aryl ethynyl substituted quinoline-8-carboxamide were synthesized and identified as a new class of PARP inhibitors. (Lord, A. M.; Mahon, M. F.; Lloyd, M. D.; Threadgill, M. D. J. Med. Chem. 2009, 52, 868-877) and also a new series of 3-ethynyl-1H-indazoles (3) has been synthesized and exhibited low micro molar inhibition against critical components of the PI3K pathway, targeting PI3K, PDK1, and mTOR kinases, These compound displays significant antiproliferative activity both in monolayer human cancer cell cultures and in three dimensional tumor models and these identified as multiple PI3K/PDK1/mTOR inhibitors. (Barile, E.; De, S. K.; Carlson, C. B.; Chen, V.; Knutzen, C.; Riel-Mehan, M.; Yang, L.; Dahl, R.; Chiang, G.; Pellecchia, M.). More recently structure-activity relationship study revealed the rigid triple bond functionality also contributed to the observed antiviral activity and also antiproliferative activity for ethynyltriazole ribonucleosides which are showing potent a poptosis-induced antiproliferative activity against pancreatic cancer MiaPaCa-2 cells both in vitro and in vivo The role of ethynyl group may be due to appended π-conjugated systems to offer helpful binding properties with the corresponding biological targets via the stronger interactions afforded by a larger aromatic binding surface and better shape complementary conjugated system. (Wan J, Xia Y, Liu Y, Wang M, Rocchi P, Yao J, Qu F, Neyts J, Iovanna J L, Peng L.  J. Med. Chem.  2009, 52, 1144-1155). 
     Keeping this aspect in mind, various aryl ethynyl groups are incorporated at N-3 position of quinazolinones. Further structural modifications have also been carried out at position 2 of quinazolinone ring. Thereby, the newly designed and synthesized molecules comprising of quinazolinone and phenyl ethynyl moiety could possess promising anticancer activity that might work through inhibition of PARP. Additionally, these are structurally simple small molecules. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION 
     The main objective of the present invention is to provide 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of general formula A. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide process for the preparation of 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of general formula A. 
     Still another objective of the present invention is to provide 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of general formula A as potential anticancer agents. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, present invention provides 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of general formula A 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, structural formulas of the representative group of 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds are: 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, said compounds are useful as anticancer agent. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of general formula A, wherein chemical formula of the compounds are:
     (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-methylstyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4a);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4b);   (E)-2-(2,5-Dihydroxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4c);   (E)-2-(2,4-Dihydroxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4d);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxy-3-nitrostyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4e);   (E)-2-(4-Methoxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4f);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4g)   (E)-2-(3,4-Dimethoxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4h);   (E)-2-(2,4-Dimethoxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4i);   (E)-2-(2-(Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)vinyl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4j);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxy-3,5-dimethylstyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4k);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4l);   (E)-2-(4-Fluorostyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4m);   (E)-2-(4-Chlorostyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4n);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2-methylstyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5a);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(4-hydroxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5b);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2,5-dihydroxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5c);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2,4-dihydroxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5d);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-nitrostyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5e);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(4-methoxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5f);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5g);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(3,4-dimethoxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5h);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2,4-dimethoxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5i);   (E)-2-(2-(Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)vinyl)-3-(4-((4-tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5j);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylstyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5k);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5i);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(4-fluorostyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5m);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(4-chlorostyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5n);   (E)-3-(4-((6-Methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2-methylstyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6a);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxystyryl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6b);   (E)-2-(2,5-Dihydroxystyryl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6c);   (E)-2-(2,4-Dihydroxystyryl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6d);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxy-3-nitrostyryl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6e);   (E)-2-(4-methoxystyryl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6f);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxystyryl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6g);   (E)-2-(3,4-Dimethoxystyryl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6h);   (E)-2-(2,4-Dimethoxystyryl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6i);   (E)-2-(2-(Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)vinyl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6j);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxy-3,5-dimethylstyryl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6k);   (E)-3-(4-((6-Methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6l);   (E)-2-(4-Fluorostyryl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6m);   (E)-2-(4-Chlorostyryl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (6n)   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-methylstyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7a);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7b);   (E)-2-(2,5-Dihydroxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7c);   (E)-2-(2,4-Dihydroxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7d);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxy-3-nitrostyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7e);   (E)-2-(4-Methoxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7f);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7g);   (E)-2-(3,4-Dimethoxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7h);   (E)-2-(2,4-Dimethoxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7i);   (E)-2-(2-(Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)vinyl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7j);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxy-3,5-dimethylstyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7k);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7l);   (E)-2-(4-Fluorostyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7m);   (E)-2-(4-Chlorostyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (7n);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-methylstyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8a);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8b);   (E)-2-(2,5-Dihydroxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8c);   (E)-2-(2,4-Dihydroxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8d);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxy-3-nitrostyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8e);   (E)-2-(4-Methoxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8f);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8g);   (E)-2-(3,4-Dimethoxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8h);   (E)-2-(2,4-Dimethoxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8i);   (E)-2-(2-(Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)vinyl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8j);   (E)-2-(4-Hydroxy-3,5-dimethylstyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8k);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8l);   (E)-2-(4-Fluorostyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8m);   (E)-2-(4-Chlorostyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (8n);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (9a);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-(5-nitrothiophen-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (9b);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (10a);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2-(5-nitrothiophen-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (10b);   (E)-3-(4-((6-Methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (11a);   (E)-3-(4-((6-Methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2-(5-nitrothiophen-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (11b);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (12a);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-(5-nitrothiophen-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (12b);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (13a);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-(5-nitrothiophen-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (13b);   (E)-2-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)vinyl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (14a);   (E)-2-(2-(5-Methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)vinyl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (14b);   (E)-2-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)vinyl)-3-(4-((4-tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (15a);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2-(5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (15b);   (E)-2-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)vinyl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (16a);   (E)-2-(2-(5-Methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)vinyl)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (16b);   (E)-2-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)vinyl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (17a);   (E)-2-(2-(5-Methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)vinyl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (17b);   (E)-2-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)vinyl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (18a);   (E)-2-(2-(5-Methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)vinyl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (18b);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-(naphthalen-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (19a);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-(quinolin-6-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (19b);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2-(naphthalen-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (20a);   (E)-3-(4-((4-Tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2-(quinolin-6-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (20b);   (E)-3-(4-((6-Methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2-(naphthalen-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (21a);   (E)-3-(4-((6-Methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(2-(quinolin-6-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (21b);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-(naphthalen-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (22a);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-(quinolin-6-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (22b);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-(naphthalen-2-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (23a);   (E)-3-(2-Methyl-4-(thiophen-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2-(quinolin-6-yl)vinyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (23b).   

     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, structural formulae of the 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of general formula A are: 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds are useful as anticancer agent. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of formula 4b, 4c, 5d and 6l exhibiting an in vitro anticancer activity against sixty human cancer cell lines derived from nine cancer types leukemia cell line, non small cell lung cell line, colon cell line, CNS cell line, renal cell line, prostate cell line, ovarian cell line, breast and melanoma cell line. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of formula 4b, 4c, 5d and 6l exhibiting an in vitro anticancer activity against six leukemia cancer cell lines (CCRF-CEM, HL-60, K-562, MOLT-4, SR and RPMI-8226) for GI 50  are in the range of 1.66 to 3.26, 0.634 to 1.54, 2.45 to 3.85 and 0.395 to 4.66 μM, respectively at an exposure period of at least 48 h. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of formula 4b, 4c, 5d and 6l exhibiting an in vitro anticancer activity against nine non-small cell lung cancer cell lines (A549/ATCC, EKVX, HOP-62, HOP-92, NCI-H226, NCI-H23, NCI-H322M, NCI-H460 and NCI-H522) for GI 50  are in the range of 2.22 to 13.1, 1.24 to 1.71, 1.82 to 6.09 and 2.48 to 40.5 μM, respectively at an exposure period of at least 48 h. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of formula 4b, 4c, 5d and 6l exhibiting an in vitro anticancer activity against seven colon cancer cell line (COLO 205, HCC-2998, HCT-116, HCT-15, HT29, KM12 and SW-620) for GI 50  are in the range of 1.99 to 4.08, 1.03 to 1.95, 1.81 to 3.33 and 1.22 to 17.2 μM, respectively at an exposure period of at least 48 h. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of formula 4b, 4c, 5d and 6l exhibiting an in vitro anticancer activity against six CNS cancer cell line (SF-268, SF-295, SF-539, SNB-19, SNB-75 and U251) for GI 50  are in the range of 2.85 to 6.91, 1.30 to 1.62, 1.87 to 7.90, 7.40 μM, respectively at an exposure period of at least 48 h. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of formula 4b, 4c, 5d and 6l said compounds exhibiting an in vitro anticancer activity against eight renal cancer cell line (786-0, A498, ACHN, CAKI-1, SN12C, TK-10, UO-31 and RXF 393) for are in the range of 1.56 to 3.77, 0.370 to 2.15, 1.88 to 5.08, 4.91 μM, respectively at an exposure period of at least 48 h. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of formula 4b, 4c, 5d exhibiting an in vitro anticancer activity against two prostate cancer cell line (PC-3, DU-145) for GI 50  are 3.24 to 4.87, 0.419 to 2.19, 3.42 to 3.67 μM, respectively at an exposure period of at least 48 h. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of formula 4b, 4c, 5d and 6l exhibiting an in vitro anticancer activity against seven ovarian cancer cell lines (IGROV1, OVCAR-3, OVCAR-4, OVCAR-5, OVCAR-8, NCI/ADR-RES and SK-OV-3) for GI 50  are in the range of 3.09 to 20.6, 1.39 to 2.45, 2.23 to 10.9 and 19.3 μM respectively at an exposure period of at least 48 h. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of formula 4b, 4c, 5d and 6l exhibiting an in vitro anticancer activity against six breast cancer cell line (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231/ATCC, HS 578T, TD-47D, MDA-MB-468 and BT-549) for GI 50  are in the range of 2.02 to 3.89, 1.14 to 1.61, 2.20 to 8.60, 3.80 to 63.8 μM, respectively at an exposure period of at least 48 h. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of formula 4b, 4c, 5d and 6l exhibiting an in vitro anticancer activity against nine melanoma cancer cell line (LOX IMVI, MALME-3M, M14, MDA-MB-435, SK-MEL-2, SK-MEL-28, SK-MEL-5, UACC-257 and UACC-62) for GI 50  are in the range of 1.77 to 4.54, 1.35 to 1.67, 1.49 to 8.42 and 1.85 to 42.6 μM, respectively at an exposure period of at least 48 h. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a process for the preparation of 3-arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of general formula A and the said process comprising the steps of:
         i. treating 4-iodo-2-methylbenzenamine (24) with substituted aryl (hetero) ethynyl compounds of formulae (25a-e) which represent phenyl, 4-tertiary butyl phenyl, 6-methoxy naphthaalene, 3-pyridyl, 2-thiophenyl ethynyl compounds by employing Sonagashira coupling conditions using Pd(PPh 3 ) 4  as catalyst, CuI as cocatalyst, butyl amine as base and ether as solvent and kept the reaction for 6-8 h to gave 2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)benzenamine compounds (26a-e) wherein G represent phenyl, 4-tertiary-butyl phenyl, 6-methoxy naphthalene, 3-pyridyl, 2-thiophenyl;       

     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
         
         
           
             ii. treating anthranilic acids (27) with acetic anhydride at temperature in the range of 150-155° C. for period in the range of 30-45 min afforded 2-methyl-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one compound (28); 
           
         
       
    
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
         
         
           
             iii. mixing 2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)benzenamine compounds (26a-e) as obtained in step (i) with 2-methyl-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one (28) as obtained in step (ii) in acetic acid was heated under reflux conditions (120-125° C.) for 8-10 h afford 2-methyl-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (29a-e); 
           
         
       
    
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
         
         
           
             iv. treating 2-methyl-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (29a-e) as obtained in step (iii) with aldehydes of formula 30a-n, 31a-b, 32a-b and 33a-b in acetic acid was heated under reflux conditions (120-125° C.) for 8-10 h to obtain the final compounds 4a-n to 8a-n, 9a-b to 23a-b of general formula A. 
           
         
       
    
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  represents structural formula of compounds of formula 30a-n, 31a-b, 32a-b, 33a-b, 25a-e, 26a-e, 29a-e. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 2  (Scheme 1) represents the flow diagram for the preparation of compound of general formula A wherein reagent and conditions are (i) substituted phenyl acetylenes, Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 , CuI, BuNH 2 , ether, rt (room temperature 25 to 30° C.), 6h; (ii) Ac 2 O, 150° C., 30 min; (iii) aryl ethynyl anilines, AcOH, reflux, 8 h; (iv) Substituted aldehydes, AcOH, reflux, 8 h. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds have shown promising anticancer activity in various cell lines. The molecules synthesized are of immense biological significance. This resulted in design and synthesis of new congeners as illustrated in Scheme-1, which comprise:
         i. Sonagasira coupling reaction between various phenyl acetylenes and 4-iodo-2-methylbenzenamine.   ii. Cyclization of anthranilic acid on reaction with acetic anhydride at 150° C. for 30 min.   iii. Insertion reaction of 2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)benzenamine and 2-methyl-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one in acetic acid under reflux conditions afforded 2-methyl-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one.   iv. The synthesis of 3-Arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds as potential anticancer agents were synthesized by the reaction of 2-methyl-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one with various substituted aldehydes at room temperature to gave the final compounds.   v. Purification by column chromatography using different solvents like ethyl acetate, hexane, chloroform and methanol.       

     The 3-arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds exhibited significant anticancer activity against sixty human cancer cell lines. 
     EXAMPLES 
     The following examples are given by way of illustration of the present invention and therefore should not be construed to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     Example 1 
     (E)-2-(4-hydroxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4b) 
     4-iodo-2-methylbenzenamine (24, 233 mg, 1 mmol) on reaction with ethynyl benzene (25a, 102 mg, 1 mmol) by employing Sonagashira coupling conditions using Pd(PPh 3 ) 4  (69.3 mg, 0.06 equiv) as catalyst, CuI (22.8 mg, 0.12 equiv) as cocatalyst, butyl amine (261 mg, 3 equiv) as base and ether as solvent and kept the reaction for 6 h. After completion of the reaction as indicated by TLC and the reaction mixture is extracted into ether (4×25 mL) from the aqueous layer and concentrated in vacuo. The compound was further purified by column chromatography using 60-120 silica gel (ethyl acetate/hexane, 1:9) to obtain 2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)benzenamine compound (26a) as pure product. Anthranilic acid (27, 137 mg, 1 mmol) on reaction with acetic anhydride at 150° C. and reflux for 30 min, after completion of reaction aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution is added and extracted in ethyl acetate (4×25 mL) from the aqueous layer and concentrated in vacuo afforded 2-methyl 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one compound (28) as pure product. To a stirred solution of 2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)benzenamine (26a, 207 mg, 1 mmol) with 2-methyl-4H-benzo[α][1,3]oxazin-4-one (28, 161 mg, 1 mmol) in acetic acid and reflux for 8 h. After completion of the reaction as indicated by TLC. The reaction mixture was quenched with NaHCO 3  and extracted in ethyl acetate (4×25 mL) from the ice cold aqueous layer and dried over anhydrous Na 2 SO 4  afforded 2-methyl-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (29a). Reaction of 2-methyl-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenyl ethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (29a, 350 mg, 1 mmol) with 4-hydroxy benzaldehyde (30b, 122 mg, 1 mmol) was taken in acetic acid Then the resulting mixture was stirred under reflux conditions for 8 h and then the reaction mixture was quenched with NaHCO 3  and extracted in ethyl acetate (4×25 mL) from the ice cold aqueous layer and dried over anhydrous Na 2 SO 4 . The resulting product (4b) was purified by column chromatography employing EtOAc/Hexane as an eluent. 
     Mp 161-162° C.;  1 H NMR (CDCl 3 +DMSO-d 6 , 200 MHz) δ 8.29 (s, 1H), 8.27 (d, J=15.1 Hz, 1H), 7.77 (d, J=3.6 Hz, 2H), 7.57 (d, J=9.4, 1H), 7.52 (dd, J=3.9, 7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.46 (t, J=3.9 Hz, 1H), 7.40-7.27 (m, 3H), 7.26-7.06 (m, 6H), 6.25 (d, J=15.3 Hz, 1H), 2.16 (s, 3H); LRMS (ESI, m/z) 455 (M) + . 
     Example 2 
     (E)-2-(2,5-dihydroxystyryl)-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4c) 
     4-iodo-2-methylbenzenamine 24 (233 mg, 1 mmol) on reaction with ethynyl benzene (25a, 102 mg, 1 mmol) by employing Sonagashira coupling conditions using Pd(PPh 3 ) 4  (69.3 mg, 0.06 equiv) as catalyst, CuI (22.8 mg, 0.12 equiv) as cocatalyst, butyl amine (261 mg, 3 equiv) as base and ether as solvent and kept the reaction for 6 h. After completion of the reaction as indicated by TLC and the reaction mixture is extracted into ether (4×25 mL) from the aqueous layer and concentrated in vacuo. The compound was further purified by column chromatography using 60-120 silica gel (ethyl acetate/hexane, 1:9) to obtain 2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)benzenamine compounds (26a) as pure product. Anthranilic acid (27, 137 mg, 1 mmol) on reaction with acetic anhydride at 150° C. and reflux for 30 min, after completion of reaction aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution is added and extracted in ethyl acetate (4×25 mL) from the aqueous layer and concentrated in vacuo afforded 2-methyl 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one compound (28) as pure product. To a stirred solution of 2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)benzenamine (26a, 207 mg, 1 mmol) with 2-methyl-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one (28, 161 mg, 1 mmol) in acetic acid and reflux for 8 h. After completion of the reaction as indicated by TLC, the reaction mixture was quenched with NaHCO 3  and extracted in ethyl acetate (4×25 mL) from the ice cold aqueous layer and dried over anhydrous Na 2 SO 4  afforded 2-methyl-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (29a). Reaction of 2-methyl-3-(2-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (29a, 350 mg, 1 mmol) with 2,5-dihydroxy benzaldehyde (30c, 138 mg, 1 mmol) was taken in acetic acid Then the resulting mixture was stirred under reflux conditions for 8 h and then the reaction mixture was quenched with NaHCO 3  and extracted in ethyl acetate (4×25 mL) from the ice cold aqueous layer and dried over anhydrous Na 2 SO 4 . The resulting product (4c) was purified by column chromatography employing EtOAc/Hexane as an eluent. 
     Mp 170-172° C.;  1 H NMR (CDCl 3 +DMSO-d 6 , 200 MHz) δ 8.26 (s, 1H), 8.02 (d, J=15.2 Hz, 1H), 7.88-7.62 (m, 3H), 7.57-7.33 (m, 6H), 7.26-7.16 (m, 3H), 7.03 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 6.81 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 6.52 (d, J=15.2 Hz, 1H), 1.82 (s, 3H); LRMS (ESI, m/z) 471 (M) + . 
     Example 3 
     (E)-3-(4-((4-tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl)-2-(2,4-dihydroxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (5d) 
     4-iodo-2-methylbenzenamine 24 (233 mg, 1 mmol) on reaction with 1-tert-butyl-4-ethynylbenzene (25b, 158 mg, 1 mmol) by employing Sonagashira coupling conditions using Pd(PPh 3 ) 4  (69.3 mg, 0.06 equiv) as catalyst, CuI (22.8 mg, 0.12 equiv) as cocatalyst, butyl amine (261 mg, 3 equiv) as base and ether as solvent and kept the reaction for 6 h. After completion of the reaction as indicated by TLC and the reaction mixture is extracted into ether (4×25 mL) from the aqueous layer and concentrated in vacuo. The compound was further purified by column chromatography using 60-120 silica gel (ethyl acetate/hexane, 1:9) to obtain 4-((4-tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methyl benzene amine (26b) as pure product. Anthranilic acid (27, 137 mg, 1 mmol) on reaction with acetic anhydride at 150° C. and reflux for 30 min, after completion of reaction aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution is added and extracted in ethyl acetate (4×25 mL) from the aqueous layer and concentrated in vacuo afforded 2-methyl 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one compound (28) as pure product. To a stirred solution of 4-((4-tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylbenzenamine (26b, 263 mg, 1 mmol) with 2-methyl-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one (28, 161 mg, 1 mmol) in acetic acid and reflux for 8 h After completion of the reaction as indicated by TLC. then the reaction mixture was quenched with NaHCO 3  and extracted in ethyl acetate (4×25 mL) from the ice cold aqueous layer and dried over anhydrous Na 2 SO 4  afforded 3-(4-((4-tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-methylquinazolin-4(3H)-one (29b). Reaction of 3-(4-((4-tert-butylphenyl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-methyl quinazolin-4(3H)-one (29b, 406 mg, 1 mmol) with 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (30d, 138 mg, 1 mmol) was taken in acetic acid Then the resulting mixture was stirred under reflux conditions for 8 h and then the reaction mixture was quenched with NaHCO 3  and extracted in ethyl acetate (4×25 mL) from the ice cold aqueous layer and dried over anhydrous Na 2 SO 4 . The resulting product (5d) was purified by column chromatography employing EtOAc/Hexane as an eluent. 
     Mp 93-95° C.;  1 H NMR (CDCl 3 +DMSO-d 6 , 200 MHz) δ 8.23 (d, J=15.9 Hz, 1H), 8.20 (s, 1H), 7.79-7.66 (m, 3H), 7.51-7.34 (m, 6H), 7.26 (s, 1H), 7.10 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 6.89 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 6.21 (d, J=15.2 Hz, 1H), 6.18 (s, 1H), 2.06 (s, 3H), 1.14 (s, 9H); LRMS (ESI, m/z) 527 (M) +   
     Example 4 
     (E)-3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxystyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (61) 
     4-iodo-2-methylbenzenamine 24 (233 mg, 1 mmol) on reaction with 2-ethynyl-6-methoxynaphthalene (25c, 182 mg, 1 mmol) by employing Sonagashira coupling conditions using Pd(PPh 3 ) 4  (69.3 mg, 0.06 equiv) as catalyst, CuI (22.8 mg, 0.12 equiv) as cocatalyst, butyl amine (261 mg, 3 equiv) as base and ether as solvent and kept the reaction for 6 h. After completion of the reaction as indicated by TLC and the reaction mixture is extracted into ether (4×25 mL) from the aqueous layer and concentrated in vacuo. The compound was further purified by column chromatography using 60-120 silica gel (ethyl acetate/hexane, 1:9) to obtain 4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl) ethynyl)-2-methyl benzenamine (26c) as pure product. Anthranilic acid (27, 137 mg, 1 mmol) on reaction with acetic anhydride at 150° C. and reflux for 30 min, after completion of reaction aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution is added and extracted in ethyl acetate (4×25 mL) from the aqueous layer and concentrated in vacuo afforded 2-methyl-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one compound (28) as pure product. To a stirred solution of 4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylbenzenamine (26c) with 2-methyl-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one (28, 161 mg, 1 mmol) in acetic acid and reflux for 8 h After completion of the reaction as indicated by TLC. then the reaction mixture was quenched with NaHCO 3  and extracted in ethyl acetate (4×25 mL) from the ice cold aqueous layer and dried over anhydrous Na 2 SO 4  afforded 3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-methylquinazolin-4(3H)-one (29c). Reaction of 3-(4-((6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)ethynyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-methylquinazolin-4(3H)-one (29c, 430 mg, 1 mmol) with 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde (30l, 196 mg, 1 mmol) was taken in acetic acid Then the resulting mixture was stirred under reflux conditions for 8 h and then the reaction mixture was quenched with NaHCO 3  and extracted in ethyl acetate (4×25 mL) from the ice cold aqueous layer and dried over anhydrous Na 2 SO 4 . The resulting product (61) was purified by column chromatography employing EtOAc/Hexane as an eluent. 
     Mp 129-130° C.;  1 H NMR (CDCl 3 +DMSO-d 6 , 200 MHz) δ 8.79 (t, J=8.5, 1H), 7.99 (s, 1H), 7.87 (d, J=14.5 Hz, 1H), 7.81-7.63 (m, 5H), 7.59-7.44 (m, 3H), 7.24 (d, J=10.2 Hz, 1H), 7.14 (dd, J=2.9, 7.7 Hz, 2H), 7.08 (s, 1H), 6.49 (s, 1H), 6.41 (d, J=15.3 Hz, 1H), 3.93 (s, 3H), 3.80 (s, 9H), 2.20 (s, 3H); LRMS (ESI, m/z) 609 (M) +   
     Biological Activity 
     Some of biological activity studies were carried out at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Maryland, USA. 
     Anticancer Activity: 
     The compounds were evaluated for anticancer activity against sixty human cancer cells derived from nine cancer types (leukemia cell line, non-small-cell lung cell line, colon cell line, CNS cell line, melanoma cell line, ovarian cell line, prostate cell line, renal cell line and breast cancer cell line) as shown in Table 1. For each compound, dose response curves for each cell line were measured at a minimum of five concentrations at 10 fold dilutions. A protocol of 48 h continuous drug exposure was used and a sulforhodamine B (SRB) protein assay was used to estimate cell viability or growth. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 The GI 50  (the concentration needed to reduce the  
               
               
                 growth of treated cells to half that of untreated cells)  
               
               
                 values for compounds 4b, 4c, 5d, and 6l in sixty cancer cell lines 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Growth Inhibition GI 50  (μM) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Cancer panel/ 
                 NSC:  
                 NSC:  
                 NSC753534 
                 NSC;754032 
               
               
                 cell line 
                 754027 (4b) 
                 754031 (4c) 
                 (5d) 
                 (6l) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Leukemia 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 CCRF-CEM 
                 3.26 
                 1.54 
                 3.85 
                 — b   
               
               
                 HL-60(TB) 
                 1.66 
                 0.634 
                 — a   
                 0.686 
               
               
                 K-562 
                 2.00 
                 1.42 
                 3.28 
                 0.882 
               
               
                 MOLT-4 
                 2.36 
                 1.14 
                 2.45 
                 4.66 
               
               
                 SR 
                 2.45 
                 1.10 
                 2.45 
                 0.395 
               
               
                 RPMI-8226 
                 2.33 
                 1.26 
                 3.10 
                 0.821 
               
               
                 Non-small lung 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 A549/ATCC 
                 3.14 
                 1.28 
                 2.83 
                 — b   
               
               
                 EKVX 
                 2.43 
                 1.24 
                 3.67 
                 24.1 
               
               
                 HOP-62 
                 13.1 
                 1.71 
                 5.88 
                 — b   
               
               
                 HOP-92 
                 2.50 
                 1.54 
                 2.82 
                 — b   
               
               
                 NCl-H226 
                 3.99 
                 1.52 
                 2.17 
                 — b   
               
               
                 NCl-H23 
                 3.62 
                 1.48 
                 2.42 
                 40.5 
               
               
                 NCl-H322M 
                 2.93 
                 1.62 
                 6.09 
                 — b   
               
               
                 NCl-H460 
                 2.22 
                 1.57 
                 1.82 
                 2.48 
               
               
                 NCl-H522 
                 2.26 
                 1.29 
                 1.83 
                 — b   
               
               
                 Colon 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 COLO 205 
                 1.99 
                 1.48 
                 3.02 
                 6.96 
               
               
                 HCC-2998 
                 2.35 
                 1.36 
                 1.93 
                 — b   
               
               
                 HCT-116 
                 2.66 
                 1.46 
                 2.89 
                 3.53 
               
               
                 HCT-15 
                 2.50 
                 1.03 
                 2.74 
                 1.22 
               
               
                 HT29 
                 3.33 
                 1.95 
                 2.08 
                 3.41 
               
               
                 KM12 
                 3.24 
                 1.65 
                 3.33 
                 4.30 
               
               
                 SW-620 
                 4.08 
                 1.71 
                 1.81 
                 17.2 
               
               
                 CNS 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 SF-268 
                 4.56 
                 1.31 
                 4.82 
                 — b   
               
               
                 SF-295 
                 2.85 
                 1.35 
                 3.83 
                 — b   
               
               
                 SF-539 
                 5.65 
                 1.60 
                 4.37 
                 — b   
               
               
                 SNB-19 
                 6.91 
                 1.62 
                 7.90 
                 — b   
               
               
                 SNB-75 
                 3.66 
                 1.30 
                 1.87 
                 — b   
               
               
                 U251 
                 4.33 
                 1.45 
                 2.11 
                 7.40 
               
               
                 Ovarian 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 IGROV1 
                 20.6 
                 2.45 
                 7.48 
                 — b   
               
               
                 OVCAR-3 
                 3.60 
                 1.49 
                 2.23 
                 19.3 
               
               
                 OVCAR-4 
                 3.17 
                 2.40 
                 3.15 
                 — b   
               
               
                 OVCAR-5 
                 4.59 
                 1.39 
                 4.25 
                 — b   
               
               
                 OVCAR-8 
                 3.98 
                 1.94 
                 3.55 
                 — b   
               
               
                 NCl/ADR- 
                 3.09 
                 2.06 
                 3.17 
                 — b   
               
               
                 RES 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 SK-OV-3 
                 9.91 
                 1.83 
                 10.9 
                 — b   
               
               
                 Renal 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 786-0 
                 3.65 
                 1.74 
                 5.08 
                 — b   
               
               
                 A498 
                 1.56 
                 0.370 
                 2.98 
                 — b   
               
               
                 ACHN 
                 2.46 
                 1.44 
                 3.26 
                 — b   
               
               
                 CAKI-1 
                 3.30 
                 2.15 
                 2.87 
                 4.91 
               
               
                 SN12C 
                 3.77 
                 1.62 
                 1.88 
                 — b   
               
               
                 TK-10 
                 2.62 
                 2.03 
                 3.82 
                 — b   
               
               
                 UO-31 
                 2.06 
                 1.16 
                 2.63 
                 — b   
               
               
                 RXF 393 
                 — a   
                   
                 1.88 
                 — b   
               
               
                 Prostate 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 PC-3 
                 3.24 
                 2.19 
                 3.67 
                 — b   
               
               
                 DU-145 
                 4.87 
                 0.419 
                 3.42 
                 — b   
               
               
                 Breast 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 MCF7 
                 2.72 
                 1.45 
                 2.39 
                 63.8 
               
               
                 MDA-MB- 
                 3.89 
                 1.56 
                 3.06 
                 37.0 
               
               
                 231/ATCC 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 HS 578T 
                 2.48 
                 1.54 
                 2.20 
                 — b   
               
               
                 BT-549 
                 — a   
                 — a   
                 8.60 
                 — a   
               
               
                 T-47D 
                 2.02 
                 1.14 
                 3.85 
                 — b   
               
               
                 MDA-MB-468 
                 3.78 
                 1.61 
                 2.20 
                 3.80 
               
               
                 Melanoma 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 LOX IMVI 
                 2.78 
                 1.37 
                 1.49 
                 5.96 
               
               
                 MALME-3M 
                 2.12 
                 1.50 
                 8.42 
                 42.6 
               
               
                 M14 
                 3.26 
                 1.54 
                 5.91 
                 12.7 
               
               
                 MDA-MB-435 
                 2.82 
                 1.67 
                 3.08 
                 — b   
               
               
                 SK-MEL-2 
                 1.93 
                 1.40 
                 3.52 
                 — b   
               
               
                 SK-MEL-28 
                 4.54 
                 1.53 
                 2.42 
                 — b   
               
               
                 SK-MEL-5 
                 1.77 
                 1.35 
                 1.77 
                 1.85 
               
               
                 UACC-257 
                 4.18 
                 1.56 
                 6.91 
                 6.24 
               
               
                 UACC-62 
                 3.48 
                 1.52 
                 3.52 
                 2.19 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 — a  not done on that cell line; 
               
               
                 — b  means GI 50  values not attained at the concentrations used. 
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 The mean graph midpoint values (MG_MID) of  
               
               
                 Log 10 GI 50  (log values of concentration in mol/L 
               
               
                 causing 50% inhibition of net cell growth) values for  
               
               
                 compounds 4b, 4c, 5d and 6l in sixty cancer cell lines. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Cancer cell lines 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Log 10 GI 50   
                 4b 
                 4c 
                 5d 
                 6l 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Leukemia 
                 −5.64 
                 −5.94 
                 −5.53 
                 −5.67 
               
               
                 Non-small cell lung 
                 −5.47 
                 −5.83 
                 −5.53 
                 −4.32 
               
               
                 Colon 
                 −5.55 
                 −5.83 
                 −5.60 
                 −5.16 
               
               
                 CNS  
                 −5.35  
                 −5.85 
                 −5.43 
                 −4.18 
               
               
                 Melanoma 
                 −5.54  
                 −5.83 
                 −5.45 
                 −4.79 
               
               
                 Ovarian 
                 −5.33 
                 −5.72 
                 −5.34 
                 −4.10 
               
               
                 Renal 
                 −5.52  
                 −5.86 
                 −5.54 
                 −4.16 
               
               
                 Prostate 
                 −5.40  
                 −6.17 
                 −5.45 
                 −4.00 
               
               
                 Breast 
                 −5.54  
                 −5.84 
                 −5.49 
                 −4.51 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 The mean graph midpoint values (MG_MID) of  
               
               
                 Log 10 LC 50  values (log value of the concentration 
               
               
                 of compounds leading to 50% net cell death) for  
               
               
                 compounds 4b, 4c, 5d and 6l in sixty cancer cell lines. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Cancer cell lines 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Log 10  LC 50   
                 4b 
                 4c 
                 5d 
                 6l 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Leukemia 
                 &gt;−4.00 
                 −4.40 
                 &gt;−4.00 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                   
                 Non-small cell lung 
                   −4.04 
                 −4.91 
                   −4.51 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                   
                 Colon 
                   −4.15 
                 −5.23 
                   −5.41 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                   
                 CNS 
                 &gt;−4.00 
                 −5.15 
                   −4.35 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                   
                 Melanoma 
                   −4.16 
                 −5.22 
                   −4.02 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                   
                 Ovarian 
                 &gt;−4.00 
                 −4.61 
                   −4.19 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                   
                 Renal 
                 &gt;−4.00 
                 −4.93 
                 −4.5 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                   
                 Prostate 
                 &gt;−4.00 
                 −4.68 
                   −4.24 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                   
                 Breast 
                 &gt;−4.00 
                 −4.66 
                   −4.25 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 The mean graph midpoint values (MG_MID) of log 10   
               
               
                 TGI (log value of concentration of the compound  
               
               
                 resulting in total inhibition of net cell growth) for  
               
               
                 compounds 4b, 4c, 5d and 6l in sixty cancer cell lines. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Cancer cell 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 lines Log 10 TGI 50   
                 4b 
                 4c 
                 5d 
                 6l 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Leukemia 
                 −4.49 
                 −5.38 
                 −4.72 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                 Non-small 
                 −4.32 
                 −5.44 
                 −4.45 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                 cell lung 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Colon 
                 −4.83 
                 −5.53 
                 −5.15 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                 CNS 
                 −4.21 
                 −5.50 
                 −4.83 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                 Melanoma 
                 −4.79 
                 −5.52 
                 −4.96 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                 Ovarian 
                 −4.23 
                 −5.31 
                 −4.77 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                 Renal 
                 −4.65 
                 −5.43 
                 −4.97 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                 Prostate 
                 &gt;−4.00  
                 −5.43 
                 −4.83 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                 Breast 
                 −4.58 
                 −5.39 
                 −4.93 
                 &gt;−4.00 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     
         
         
           
             1. The present invention provides 3-arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of general formula A. 
             2. It also provides a process for the preparation of 3-arylethynyl substituted quinazolinone compounds of general formula A.