Readily available proline derivatives can be transformed in just two steps into analogues of cytotoxic phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids. The key step uses a sequential radical scission-oxidation-alkylation process, which yields 2-substituted pyrrolidine amides. A second process effects the cyclization to give the desired alkaloid analogues, which possess an indolizidine core. The major and minor isomers (dr 3:2 to 3:1) can be easily separated, allowing their use to study structure-activity relationships (SAR). The process is versatile and allows the introduction of aryl and heteroaryl groups (including biphenyl, halogenated phenyl, and pyrrole rings). Some of these alkaloid analogues displayed a selective cytotoxic activity against tumorogenic human neuronal and mammary cancer cells, and one derivative caused around 80% cell death in both tumor lines at micromolar doses. The cytotoxicity of some monocyclic precursors was also studied, being comparable or superior to the bicyclic derivatives. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Simplification of antitumoral phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids: Short synthesis of cytotoxic indolizidinone and pyrrolidine analogs
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