Fe(iii)-Catalyzed synthesis of steroidal imidazoheterocycles as potent antiproliferative agents

Org Biomol Chem. 2020 Aug 7;18(29):5571-5576. doi: 10.1039/d0ob01241f. Epub 2020 Jul 14.

Abstract

An efficient and practical method has been developed for the synthesis of steroidal imidazoheterocycles via cost-effective and environmentally benign FeCl3-catalyzed oxidative amination. A library of steroidal imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines was directly synthesized from readily available 2-aminopyridines and steroidal ketones in aerobic conditions. The synthesized compounds were screened for activity on human microsomal cytochrome P450s CYP7, CYP17 and CYP21. Antiproliferative activity of two lead compounds 3ia and 3la was additionally evaluated against the human MCF-7 (breast cancer), SKOV3 (ovarian cancer), and 22Rv1 (prostate cancer) cell lines. Steroidal imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 3la which is a substrate molecule for CYP17A1 with IC50 = 1.7 μM (MCF-7), 3.0 (SKOV3), and 6.0 μM (22Rv1) has proved to be more active than reference drug cisplatin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Catalysis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemistry
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Steroids / chemical synthesis
  • Steroids / chemistry
  • Steroids / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Imidazoles
  • Steroids