Design, Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of Spiro(oxindole-3-3'- pyrrolidine) Derivatives

Abstract

Background: Spiro[pyrrolidine-3,3'-oxindole] compounds are reported to be highly bioactive natural and synthetic products. Initially, spirooxindole alkaloids were isolated from plants of the Apocynaceae and Rubiaceae families, which were found to have a common scaffold, spiro[pyrrolidine-3,3'-oxindole], exhibiting anticancer activities., we specifically aimed at the synthesis, characterization and anticancer activity of novel spiro[pyrrolidine-3,3' -oxindole] derivatives, compounds 6a-c and 7. Methods: The synthesis was initiated by Knovenegal condensation of indole-2-one with an appropriate benzaldehyde in presence of piperidine to afford compounds 3a-c. Compounds 6a-c were synthesized by an asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between compounds 3a-c and (2S, 3R)-2, 3, 5, 6-tetrahydro-2, 3-diphenyl-1, 4-oxazin-6-one, which is an intermediate compound formed by the Schiff base reaction between 3-methyl-butanal and (2S, 3R)-2, 3, 5, 6-tetrahydro-2, 3-diphenyl- 1,4-oxazin-6-one, in presence of molecular sieves (4Å) under argon atmosphere. Compound 6a was then reacted with ethylamine-HCl in THF at room temperature to yield compound 7. Results: Cytotoxic effects of the compounds synthesized were determined on Huh7, MV, HCT116 and MCF7 cancer cell lines by the NCI-60 Sulforhodamine B Assay, using (S)-(+)-Camptothecin as a positive control. In general, target compounds showed better cytotoxic activities against the MCF7 and HCT116 cancer cell lines. It was found that compound 7 exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 4.8 µM, 3.9 µM, 14.9 µM and 8.2 µM against the MCF7, HCT116, MV and Huh7 cell lines, respectively. Conclusion: It was determined that compounds 6a&6b possess C6'(S)|C8'(R)|C9'(R) stereochemistry and compound 7 adopts C2'(S)|C4'(R)|C5'(R) stereochemistry. Cytotoxicity studies suggest that compound 7 gave rise to the highest anticancer activity against MCF7, HCT116, and Huh7 cancer cell lines.

Indole Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents: A Review

“…Synthesis, characterization and anticancer activity of Spiro[pyrrolidine-3,3'oxindole] derivatives, compounds 31 was carried out by Konyar et al [112]. Cytotoxic effects of the compounds were determined on Huh7, MV, HCT116 and MCF7 cancer cell lines by the NCI-60 Sulforhodamine B Assay, using (S)-(+)-Camptothecin as a positive control.…”

“…Generally, target compounds showed better cytotoxic activities against the MCF7 and HCT116 cancer cell lines. It was found that compound 31 exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 4.8 μM, 3.9 μM, 14.9 μM and 8.2 μM against the MCF7, HCT116, MV and Huh7 cell lines, respectively [112].…”