Indole-fused azepines and analogues as anticancer lead molecules: Privileged findings and future directions

Novel Indole-fused benzo-oxazepines (IFBOs) inhibit invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting IL-6 mediated JAK2/STAT3 oncogenic signals

Inspired by the well-documented tumor protecting ability of paullones, recently, we synthesized novel paullone-like scaffolds, indole-fused benzo-oxazepines (IFBOs), and screened them against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specific Hep-G2 cells. Three of the synthesized compounds significantly attenuated the progression of HCC in vitro. By computational studies, we further discovered that IFBOs exhibited a stable binding complex with the IL-6 receptor. In this context, we investigated in vivo study using the nitrosodiethyl amine (NDEA)-induced HCC model, which strengthened our previous findings by showing the blockade of the IL-6 mediated JAK2/STAT3 oncogenic signaling pathway. Treatment with IFBOs showed remarkable attenuation of cellular proliferation, as evidenced through a decrease in the number of nodules, restoration of body weight, oxidative stress parameters, liver marker enzymes and histological architecture. Interestingly, using a metabolomic approach we further discovered that IFBOs can restore the perturbed metabolic profile associated with the HCC condition to normalcy. Particularly, the efficacy of compound 6a for an anti-HCC response was significantly better than the marketed chemotherapeutic drug, 5-fluorouracil. Altogether, these remarkable findings open up possibilities of developing IFBOs as novel future candidate molecules for plausible alternatives for HCC treatment.

Metal-free oxidative radical cascade addition/oxobutylation of unactivated alkenes with acetone towards 3-(3-oxobutyl)indolines

A direct oxobutylation of N-allyl anilines with acetone was developed under metal-free and acid-free conditions.

A facile approach to synthesize azaindoline functionalized spirocarbocyclic scaffolds via a Pd-catalyzed cascade cyclization/dearomatization process

Azaindoline functionalized spirocarbocyclic scaffolds bearing two all-carbon quaternary centers are synthesized.

Metal-free radical cascade chloromethylation of unactivated alkenes: synthesis of polychloro-substituted indolines

The di- and trichloromethylation of N-allyl anilines with CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃ and CCl₄ was developed, leading to di- and trichloromethylated indolines.