The Synthesis, Anticancer Activity, Structure-Activity Relationships and Molecular Modelling Studies of Novel Isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione Compounds Containing Different Functional Groups
Authors: Tan Ayse , Kizilkaya Serap , Kelestemur Unzile , Akdemir Atilla , Kara Yunus 
Published: April 2020

Background:
Isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione derivatives are known to have cytotoxic effects on many
cancer cells. The anticancer activity of these compounds varies depending on the substituents attached to them.
Therefore, the effect of substituents is very important when determining the anticancer activities of molecules.
We have recently reported an example of the substituent effect.

:
According to that work, the anticancer activity against HeLa, C6, and A549 cancer cell lines of isoindole-
1,3(2H)-dione compounds containing tert-butyldiphenylsilyl ether, azido, and hydroxyl groups was examined by
our group. It was found that an isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione compound containing both tert-butyldiphenylsilyl ether
group and azido groups showed higher anticancer activity than 5-fluorouracil and another isoindole-1,3(2H)-
dione compound containing both azido and hydroxyl groups.

:
After we discovered that tert-butyldiphenylsilyl ether group in the skeletal structure of isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione
exhibits anticancer activity against HeLa, C6, and A549 cancer cell lines, we wanted to examine the anticancer
activities of different silyl ether groups, i.e., OTMS, -OTBDPS, and -OTBDMS groups, and also -OH and -Br
groups, by comparing them with each other according to the structure–activity relationship.

Methods:
All of the synthesized compounds were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectra, IR spectroscopy,
and mass spectra measurements. The IC50 values of these compounds were calculated for all cancer cell lines
and compared with each other and cisplatin, which is a platinum-containing chemotherapeutic drug. Molecular
modelling studies were carried out using the MOE software package.

Results:
It was found that compounds 13 and 16, containing both silyl ether (-OTBDMS) and -Br groups,
showed higher anticancer activity than cisplatin against both Caco-2 and MCF-7 cell lines. Compounds 20 and
23 showed anticancer activity in MCF-7 cells and compounds 8, 9, 20, and 23 in Caco-2 cells. While
compounds 20 and 23 have only a silyl ether (-OTMS) group, compounds 8 and 9 have only a -OH group.
Molecular modelling studies indicated that compounds 8 and 13, as well as their analogs, may bind to the active
site of hRS6KB1 (pdb: 4l3j), compound 11 may bind to the active site of human mTOR (pdb: 4jt5) and
additionally, compounds 10-17 are expected to be both mutagenic and reactive according to the mutagenicity
and reactivity calculations.

Conclusion:
According to these results, the anticancer activities of isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione compounds (8 - 23)
vary depending on the groups they contain and these groups affect each other's activities. Silyl ethers
(-OTBDMS and -OTMS) and -OH and -Br groups in the skeletal structure of isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione can be
regarded as anticancer agents. In this sense, compounds 13 and 16, containing both silyl ether (-OTBDMS) and -
Br groups, may be regarded as alternative chemotherapeutic drugs. This work may lead to the synthesis of new
isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione compounds containing different silyl ether groups and studies evaluating their
anticancer activities or other biological properties.