Acridine and Acridinedione: Synthesis and Biological Applications

The focus on acridinediones has increased over the past several decades, which has opened the door to new applications in the industrial, medical, and synthetic domains. This is because acridinediones are an important class of nitrogen heterocyclic compounds that include a 1,4-dihydropyridine parent nucleus. This book chapter covers the application of various catalysts and methodologies, such as nanocatalysts, ionic liquids, microwaves, and ultrasound, in the development of synthetic protocols. It also provides an overview of the historical context, chemical reactions, and physical and chemical characteristics of acridine/acridinedione derivatives. In addition, we have discussed the results of the monomethoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG) attached acridinedione compounds that were synthesized by our group and their biological applications, such as anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-microbial activity. The purpose of this discussion was to provide motivation for further investigation on the synthetic values and mechanistic riddles associated with the acridinedione moiety for the betterment of mankind.