Benzodioxanes are a class of isomeric compounds with the molecular formula C8H8O2. The three isomers of benzodioxane are 1,2-benzodioxane, 1,3-benzodioxane and 1,4-benzodioxane. 1,4-Benzodioxane has long been a versatile template widely used to design molecules with diverse biological activities. Its use spans past decades in medicinal chemistry to today, involving many drug discovery strategies, not excluding the most advanced ones. 1,4-Benzodioxane derivatives have been described as agonists and antagonists of nicotinic, alpha-adrenergic and 5-HT receptor subtypes. 1,4-Benzodioxane derivatives have been also reported as antitumor and antibacterial agents.
Compared to quinolines, isoquinolines are also prominent structural motifs present in many biologically significant natural and synthetic compounds. Some well-known isoquinoline alkaloids include the anticancer and anticonvulsant berberine, the vasodilator and antispasmodic drugs papaverine and emetine. In addition to naturally occurring isoquinolines, synthetic analogs have also shown significant biological activity.