Synthesis of novel steroidal 17α-triazolyl derivatives via Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition, and an evaluation of their cytotoxic activity in vitro

Regioselective Cu(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of steroidal 17α-azides with different terminal alkynes afforded novel 1,4-disubstituted triazolyl derivatives in good yields in both the estrone and the androstane series. The antiproliferative activities of the structurally related triazoles were determined in vitro on three malignant human cell lines (HeLa, MCF7 and A431), with the microculture tetrazolium assay.

► Efficient syntheses of novel steroidal triazoles. ► Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloadditions were carried out. ► The structures of all novel compounds were confirmed by NMR measurements. ► Antiproliferative activities were determined in vitro on three malignant human cell lines.