An Efficient Synthesis of 1-(1,3-Dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-3-aryl Urea Analogs as Anticancer and Antioxidant Agents: An Insight into Experimental and In Silico Studies

The present investigation reports the efficient multistep synthesis of 1-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-3-aryl urea analogs (7a-f) in good yields. All the 1-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-3-aryl urea analogs (7a-f) were characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Five among the six compounds were tested against 56 cancer cell lines at 10 µM as per the standard protocol. 1-(4-Bromophenyl)-3-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)urea (7c) exhibited moderate but significant anticancer activity against EKVX, CAKI-1, UACC-62, MCF7, LOX IMVI, and ACHN with percentage growth inhibitions (PGIs) of 75.46, 78.52, 80.81, 83.48, 84.52, and 89.61, respectively. Compound 7c was found to exhibit better anticancer activity than thalidomide against non-small cell lung, CNS, melanoma, renal, prostate, and breast cancer cell lines. It was also found to exhibit superior anticancer activity against melanoma cancer compared to imatinib. Among the tested compounds, the 4-bromosubstitution (7c) on the phenyl ring demonstrated good anticancer activity. Docking scores ranging from -6.363 to -7.565 kcal/mol were observed in the docking studies against the molecular target EGFR. The ligand 7c displayed an efficient binding against the EGFR with a docking score of -7.558 kcal/mol and displayed an H-bond interaction with Lys745 and the carbonyl functional group. Compound 7c demonstrated a moderate inhibition of EGFR with an IC50 of 42.91 ± 0.80 nM, in comparison to erlotinib (IC50 = 26.85 ± 0.72 nM), the standard drug. The antioxidant potential was also calculated for the compounds (7a-f), which exhibited good to low activity. 1-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-3-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)urea (7f) and 1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-3-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)urea (7d) demonstrated significant antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 15.99 ± 0.10 and 16.05 ± 0.15 µM, respectively. The 2- and 4-methoxysubstitutions on the N-phenyl ring showed good antioxidant activity among the series of compounds (7a-f). An in silico ADMET prediction studies showed the compounds' adherence to Lipinski's rule of five: they were free from toxicities, including mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, and immunotoxicity, but not for hepatotoxicity. The toxicity prediction demonstrated LD50 values between 1000 and 5000 mg/Kg, putting the compounds either in class IV or class V toxicity classes. Our findings might create opportunities for more advancements in cancer therapeutics.

Synthesis of novel antioxidant and antitumor 5-aminopyrazole derivatives, 2D/3D QSAR, and molecular docking

5-Aminopyrazole serves as a vital precursor for several biologically active pyrazoloazines, including pyrazolopyridine, pyrazolopyrimidine, and pyrazolotriazine, as well as Schiff bases, thiourea, and phthalimide derivatives. In this study, we structurally characterized novel pyrazole derivatives by spectral IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and MASS spectroscopy. We also evaluated antioxidant activity of various derivatives using ABTS and DPPH methods and cytotoxicity in the hepatocellular carcinoma Hep-G2 cells by SRB assay. The most potent antitumor molecules were 5-aminopyrazole derivative 3, chloroacetanilide derivative 8, maleimide derivative 10a, pyrazolopyrimidine 16, and enamine 19, with IC₅₀ values of 41, 3.6, 37, 24.4, and 17.7 μM, respectively. Complementary computational studies predicted QSAR and bioactivity of these molecules. Interestingly, the most effective compounds were also predicted to be kinase inhibitors; in addition, molecular docking with liver receptors (3MBG, 4XCU, and 4G9C) predicted promising interactions.

Synthesis of Phthalimide Imine Derivatives as a Potential Anticancer Agent

The outstanding evidence of phthalimide pharmacophore in securing enhanced biological activities had encouraged further research and development into phthalimide-based derivatives as potential new drugs. In this study, phthalimide core was hybridized with aldehydes giving integrated imines displaying different types of functionalities and at alternating positions. The resulting compounds, therefore, provide an innovative window to explore possible differential biological effects as antioxidants and anticancer agents. A total of sixteen compounds were synthesized, and each was verified by FT-IR, H NMR, C NMR, and MS characterization. Herein, a facile single-step synthesis method was employed substituting the conventional two-step chemical production routes. Among the sixteen tested compounds, the H7 compound with hydroxyl phenolic group has shown an eminent antioxidant activity with a 19.52% decrease to the IC50 value compared to that of the control standard BHT antioxidant. On the other hand, the halogenated H6 Schiff base structure was successful in securing effective cancer inhibition to both colon and breast cancer cell lines, while maintaining selective action toward normal tissues. Results have collectively indicated the importance and impactful effects of functional groups position and types within similar basic structures, in directing different biological outcomes.

Magnetic chitosan nanocomposite: As a novel catalyst for the synthesis of new derivatives of N-sulfonylamidine and N-sulfonylimidate

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of a highly active catalyst based on chelated copper iodide on magnetic chitosan-salicylaldehyde Schiff base. This catalyst was successfully used for the three-component reaction of N-propargylphthalimide, tosylazide, and NH or OH containing nucleophiles to access new classes of N-sulfonylamidine or N-sulfonylimidate derivatives. The products, which were constructed via an in situ generated sulfonyl keteneimine intermediate, were obtained in good to excellent yields. Short reaction times, easy separation and reusability without significant loss of catalyst activity were found to be the notable features of this synthetic protocol.