An efficient synthetic approach toward a sporadic heterocyclic scaffold: 1,3-Oxathiol-2-ylidenes; alkaline phosphatase inhibition and molecular docking studies

We developed a simple and robust method for synthesis of 1,3-oxathiol-2-ylidene benzamides (4a–m) a sporadic class of heterocycles, by reacting freshly prepared aroyl isothiocyanates, with ethyl 2-chloroacetoacetate in presence of N-methylimidazole in dry acetonitrile. The synthesized compounds were explored for their inhibition against alkaline phosphatases and HeLa cancer cell lines. The results suggest that almost all the compounds possess good % inhibition against both enzymes, with compound 4m showing dual inhibition while 4g and 4i as potent and selective inhibitors of TNAP and c-IAP respectively. Structure activity relationship for the active members of series has been carried out based on molecular docking studies. The result of SAR shows the involvement of active inhibitors in H-bonding at various sites with different amino acid residues in addition to secondary metal ion interactions with Zn ions inside the active pocket of the enzyme. The π-π interactions between the 1,3-oxathiole ring and imidazole ring of His321 and His 317 further defines the dual mode of inhibition by compound 4m. These compounds also possess inhibition potential against cervical cell lines in the range of 2.42–69.03% with the maximum inhibition shown by the unsubstituted member 4a compared to the reference drug cisplatin.