The Knoevenagel reactions of pregnenolone with cyanomethylene reagents: Synthesis of thiophene, thieno[2,3-b]pyridine, thieno[3,2-d]isoxazole derivatives of pregnenolone and their in vitro cytotoxicity towards tumor and normal cell lines

- The Knoevenagel reactions of pregnenolone with -aminoprop-1-ene-1,1,3-tricarbonitrile and 3-oxo-3-phenylpropanenitrile.
- Separation and structure elucidation of the E and Z stereo-isomeric products were carried out.
- The cytotoxicity of the newly synthesized products was evaluated against six human cancer cell lines and one human cell line.
- Some compounds showed high cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines.