Synthesis and evaluation of 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)-N-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amines as Bcl-2 inhibitory anticancer agents

A series of 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)-N-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amines 8a–j has been designed, synthesized and tested in vitro as potential pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-inhibitory anticancer agents based on our previous lead compound 8a. Synthesis of the target compounds was readily accomplished through a cyclisation reaction between indole-3-carboxylic acid hydrazide (5) and substituted isothiocyanates 6a–j, followed by oxidative cyclodesulfurization of the corresponding thiosemicarbazide 7a–j using 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin. Active compounds of the series 8a–j were found to have sub-micromolar IC₅₀ values selectively in Bcl-2 expressing human cancer cell lines; notably the 2-nitrophenyl analogue 8a was found to exhibit potent activity, and compounds 8a and 8e possessed comparable Bcl-2 binding affinity (ELISA assay) to the established natural product-based Bcl-2 inhibitor, gossypol. Molecular modeling studies helped to further rationalise anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 binding, and identified compounds 8a and 8e as candidates for further development as Bcl-2 inhibitory anticancer agents.