Some new quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives, synthesis and antitumor activity

series of some new 2,3-disubstituted-6-iodo-3H-quinazolin-4-one derivatives was prepared and screened for their in vitro antitumor activity against the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), human cervix carcinoma cell line (HeLa), human liver cancer cell line (HepG2) and human colon cancer cell line HCT-8. Five compounds exhibited broad spectrum antitumor activity, better than the standard drug Doxorubicin (CAS-23214-92-8) against the four tested cell lines. In the present study, MCF-7 cell line was the most sensitive one, 12 compounds were good cytotoxic towards it. The best cytotoxic results were obtained with compounds bearing allyl and/or benzyl moiety at positions 2 and/or 3 of the quinazoline nucleus.