New Cell Cycle Checkpoint Pathways Regulators with 2-Oxo-indoline Scaffold as Potential Anticancer Agents: Design, Synthesis, Biological Activities and In Silico Studies

Pyrrolizine/indolizine-bearing (un)substituted isoindole moiety: design, synthesis, antiproliferative and MDR reversal activities, and in silico studies

Two new series of pyrrolizine/indolizine derivative-bearing (un)substituted isoindole moiety were designed and synthesized. The anticancer potential of the new compounds was evaluated against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2), colorectal carcinoma, colon cancer (HCT-116), and breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. Compounds 6d and 6o were the most potent derivatives with IC50 values ranging from 6.02 to 13.87 μM against HePG-2, HCT-116, and MCF-7 cell lines. Moreover, methyl analog of the fluoro-substituted indolizine derivative 6m revealed significant antiproliferative activity against HePG-2, HCT-116, and MCF-7 cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 11.97, 28.37, and 19.87 μM, respectively. The most active anticancer analogs, 6d, 6m, and 6o, were inspected for their putative mechanism of action by estimating their epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK 2) inhibitory activities. Thus, compound 6o displayed the most inhibitory activity against EGFR and CDK 2 with IC50 values of 62 and 118 nM, respectively. Additionally, the quantitative real-time PCR analysis for the P-glycoprotein effect of compounds 6d, 6m, and 6o was performed, in which compound 6o illustrated significant down-regulation of P-gp against the HepG-2 cell line by 0.2732 fold. Mechanistic studies for the most active compounds involving the reversal doxorubicin (DOX) effect of compounds 6d, 6m, and 6o were performed, which illustrated cytotoxic activity with IC50 22.27, 3.88, and 8.79 μM, respectively. Moreover, the apoptotic activity of the most active derivative 6o on HCT-116 cancer cells showed accumulation in the G1 and S phases of the cell cycle.

One-Pot, Five-Component Condensation Reaction of Isatin, Secondary Amines, Malononitrile, Alcohols, and Molecular Oxygen to Access 3-Functionalized 2-Oxindoles

An efficient five-component condensation reaction of isatin, malononitrile, secondary amines, alcohols, and molecular oxygen was discovered. The reaction was performed in a one-pot fashion, and it does not require any metal catalyst. It gives straightforward access to structurally diverse 2-oxo-3-aminoindoline-3-carboxylates in moderate yields (70-88%). The scope of the reaction was successfully demonstrated by synthesizing a series of 3-functionalized 2-oxindoles by varying the isatin, amine, and alcohol components.