Highly regioselective synthesis of 3-alkenyl-oxindole ring-fused 3,3'-disubstituted oxindoles via direct gamma-substitution of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates of isatins with 3-substituted oxindoles

Org Biomol Chem. 2014 Dec 14;12(46):9366-74. doi: 10.1039/c4ob01523a. Epub 2014 Oct 14.

Abstract

The first phase transfer-catalysed direct γ-substitution of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates of isatins with 3-substituted oxindoles has been developed, which affords 3-alkenyl-oxindole ring-fused 3,3'-disubstituted oxindoles in up to 83% yield under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, their biological activity has been preliminarily demonstrated by in vitro evaluation against human prostate cancer cells PC-3 and human leukemia cells K562, using MTT-based assays with the commercially available standard drug Cisplatin as a positive control. Gratifyingly, compounds 3aa, 3ba and 3ca exhibited comparable in vitro inhibitory activities against human prostate cancer cells (PC-3) to Cisplatin. What's more, 3ba also had a good inhibition ability against human leukemia cells K562. These results indicate that 3-alkenyl-oxindole ring-fused 3,3'-disubstituted oxindole analogs may be potential lead compounds for further biological screening.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkylation
  • Allyl Compounds / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Carbonates / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemical synthesis*
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • K562 Cells
  • Male
  • Molecular Structure
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Allyl Compounds
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Carbonates
  • Indoles
  • Cisplatin