Efficient and mild one-pot synthesis of (E)-8′-arylidene-5′,6′,7′,8′-tetrahydrospiro[oxindole-3,4′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyridin] derivatives with potential antitumor activity

Abstract

A mild and efficient cyclization procedure for the synthesis of (E)-8′-arylidene-5′,6′,7′,8′-tetrahydrospiro[oxindole-3,4′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyridin] derivatives was achieved via one-pot three-component condensation of isatins, malononitrile and (E)-3-arylidene-1-methylpiperidin-4-ones using piperidine as an efficient catalyst and ethanol as an environmentally benign solvent. The in vitro antitumor activity of these compounds was evaluated in human cervical carcinoma cell line (Hela), human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2), and human breast carcinoma cell line (MDA-MB-231).