Discovery of novel steroidal pyran–oxindole hybrids as cytotoxic agents

• A new class of steroidal pyran–oxindole hybrids were efficiently synthesized in one pot.
• These compounds were more sensitive to MCF-7 and MGC-803 cells.
• Compounds 4f and 4i were more potent than 5-Fu against T24 and MGC-803 cells.
• Compound 4f showed excellent cytotoxicity against T24 cells (IC50 = 4.43 μM).
• Compound 4i showed cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and induced early apoptosis.

A series of novel steroidal pyran–oxindole hybrids were efficiently synthesized in a single operation through the vinylogous aldol reaction of vinyl malononitrile 3 with substituted isatins involving the construction of C–C and C–O bonds. Some compounds displayed moderate to good cytotoxicity against T24, SMMC-7721, MCF-7 and MGC-803 cells. Compounds 4f and 4i were more potent than 5-Fu against T24 and MGC-803 cells with the IC50 values of 4.43 and 8.45 μM, respectively. Further mechanism studies indicated that compound 4i induced G2/M arrest and early apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.

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