Stereocontrolled [3+2] Cycloaddition of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes to Iminooxindoles: Access to Spiro[oxindole-3,2'-pyrrolidines]

J Org Chem. 2019 Mar 15;84(6):3340-3356. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.8b03208. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Abstract

A novel stereocontrolled assembly of spiro[oxindole-3,2'-pyrrolidines] via [3+2]-cycloaddition of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes to electron-poor ketimines, iminooxindoles, was developed. The method allows for efficient employment of common readily available donor-acceptor cyclopropanes, functionalized with ester, keto, nitro, cyano etc. groups, and N-unprotected iminooxindoles. The stereospecificity of the initial SN2-like imine attack on a cyclopropane molecule together with a high diastereoselectivity of further C-C bond formation facilitate a rapid access to spiro[oxindole-3,2'-pyrrolidines] in their optically active forms. Preliminary in vitro testing of the synthesized compounds against LNCaP (p53+) and PC-3 (p53-) cells revealed good antiproliferative activities and p53-selectivity indices for several compounds that are intriguing in terms of their further investigation as inhibitors of MDM2-p53 interaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cycloaddition Reaction
  • Cyclopropanes / chemistry*
  • Imines / chemical synthesis*
  • Imines / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxindoles / chemical synthesis*
  • Oxindoles / chemistry
  • Pyrrolidines / chemistry*
  • Spiro Compounds / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Cyclopropanes
  • Imines
  • Oxindoles
  • Pyrrolidines
  • Spiro Compounds
  • cyclopropane