Benign Synthesis of Thiazolo-androstenone Derivatives as Potent Anticancer Agents

Org Lett. 2018 Sep 21;20(18):5927-5932. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.8b02587. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Abstract

An unprecedented reaction of thiourea derivatives with 6β-bromoandrostenedione has been discovered for the formation of aminothiazolo-androstenones via a simple, safer, cascade protocol that enables the syntheses of novel molecules by using readily available reagents. The reaction mechanism of product formation has been rationalized by density functional theory calculations. This benign methodology accentuates a domino protocol deploying a renewable solvent, ethanol, while generating novel compounds that display potent growth inhibitory effects in in vitro studies for several cancer cell lines at submicromolar concentrations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Androstenes / chemistry
  • Androstenes / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Density Functional Theory
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Thiazoles / chemistry
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Androstenes
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Thiazoles
  • androst-16-en-3-one