Benzylidene-isophorone hybrids with strong anticancer activity

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2024 Oct 15:319:124577. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.124577. Epub 2024 Jun 1.

Abstract

Isophorone is a cyclic ketone that has gained significant attention in the field of organic chemistry due to its versatile reactivity and structural attributes. Derivatives of isophorone offer a broad spectrum of applications ranging from pharmaceuticals to polymer chemistry. With the aim of developing novel hybrid structures based on benzylidene by combining with isophorone scaffold, we report 3 derivatives of the benzylidene-isophorone hybrids and its potent anticancer activity. In order to optimize the anticancer activity of hybrids di-substitution of -Cl group in C2 and C6 position of phenyl ring (compound1), -OCH3 group in C2 and C5 position of phenyl ring (compound2), and -OCH3 group in C2 and C3 position of phenyl ring (compound3) of benzylidene (PhCH=) moiety were made. The structure of Compounds1,2 and 3 were elucidated using spectral and XRD methods. Compounds1,2 and 3 exhibit space group P c a 21, P-1, and P 1 21/n 1 respectively. Compounds1,2 and 3 were tested for the potent anticancer activity on MDA MB-231 cell line. All the three compounds exhibit good anticancer activity on the breast cancer cells. The parent hybrid with ortho, ortho directing -Cl (1) exhibits strong antiproliferation effect (IC50 = 0.028 µM) on MDA-MB 231 cell line. However, hybrid structures with ortho, meta directing -OCH3 (2) group showed moderate effect (IC50 = 0.061 µM) and hybrid with ortho, meta directing -OCH3 (3) substitution showed the least potent anticancer activity (IC50 = 0.074 µM). The benzylidene-isophorone hybrids exhibit anticancer effects in the following order: 1 > 2 > 3.

Keywords: Anticancer; Benzylidene; Benzylidene-isophorone hybrids; Isophorone; MDA_MB 231 cell line.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Benzylidene Compounds* / chemistry
  • Benzylidene Compounds* / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cyclohexanones
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzylidene Compounds
  • isophorone
  • Cyclohexanones