Mefenamic acid based novel indole analogues: Their synthesis and anti-proliferative effects

Abstract

Prompted by the literature report on anticancer properties of mefenamic acid, a series of mefenamic acid based indole derivatives were designed via a rational approach. Synthesis of this class of compounds was carried out via a 3-step method starting from the mefenamic acid and using the Pd/C–Cu mediated coupling-cyclization strategy as a key step. A focused library of related molecules was synthesized and evaluated for their anti-proliferative properties against normal (HEK293T) and oral (CAL 27) as well as breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines when several compounds showed selective growth inhibition of oral cancer cells of which the compound 5g [i.e. N-(2-(((5-fluoro-1-(methylsulfonyl)-1H-indol-2-yl)methoxy)methyl)phenyl)-2,3-dimethylaniline] was found to be promising. Keywords: Mefenamic acid, Indole, Pd/C, Cancer