Simplification of antitumoral phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids: Short synthesis of cytotoxic indolizidinone and pyrrolidine analogs

摘要

Hydroxylated seco-analogs of cytotoxic phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids were prepared in good yields from inexpensive 4-hydroxyproline derivatives, in just two steps. Thus, a sequential oxidative radical scission - oxidation was used for the direct conversion of the proline derivative into a 2-(2-aryl-oxoethyl) pyrrolidine with a variety of aryl and heteroaryl groups. The 4R-stereogenic center allowed ready isomer separation, and stereocontrol in the introduction of new chains (interestingly, the 2,4-cis isomers predominated). In the second step, a cyclization reaction afforded alkaloid analogs with an indolizidinone core; a partial isomerization took place but the isomers were readily purifi ed. Then the cytotoxic activity of the bicyclic indolizidinones and the simpler pyrrolidine derivatives was compared against tumorogenic human neuronal SHSY-5Y and breast cancer MCF7 cells. All the biphenyl derivatives displayed a potent activity (one derivative caused >80% cell death in both tumor lines at micromolar dosis), being comparable in the pyrrolidine and indolizidinone series.