Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular modeling studies of novel heterocyclic compounds as anti-proliferative agents

Abstract

Two novel series of heterocyclic compounds have been synthesized. In first series, isatin was allowed to react with substituted aromatic/cyclic carbonyl compounds to get desired mannich bases (2a–e). In second series, 4,5-disubstituted oxazoles (6a–p) were synthesized. Eight compounds (2c, 6a, 6e, 6f, 6i, 6j, 6m, and 6n) were screened for anticancer activity in 60 cell lines. Compound 2c, 1-[(4,7,7-trimethyl-3-oxobicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl)methyl]indoline-2,3-dione, showed maximum activity and thus, selected for further evaluation at five dose level screening. Furthermore, molecular docking studies of compounds 2c into the colchicine-binding site of tubulin, revealed possible mode of inhibition by the compound.