Quinols as novel therapeutic agents. 2. 4-(1-arylsulfonylindol-2-yl)-4-hydroxycyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ones and related agents as potent and selective antitumor agents

A series of substituted 4-(1-arylsulfonylindol-2-yl)-4-hydroxycyclohexa-2, 5-dien-1-ones (indolylquinols) has been synthesized on the basis of the discovery of lead compound la and screened for antitumor activity. Synthesis of this novel series was accomplished via the one-pot addition of lithiated (arylsulfonyl)indoles to 4,4-dimethoxycyclohexa-2,5-dienone followed by deprotection under acidic conditions. Similar methodology gave rise to the related naphtho-, 1H-indole-, and benzimidazole-substituted quinols. A number of compounds in this new series were found to possess in vitro human tumor cell line activity substantially more potent than the recently reported antitumor 4-substituted 4-hydroxycyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ones(1) with similar patterns of selectivity against colon, renal, and breast cell lines. The most potent compound in the series in vitro, 4-(1-benzenesulfonyl-6-fluoro-1H-indol-2-yl)-4-hydroxycyclohexa-2,5-dienone (1h), exhibits a mean GI(50) value of 16 nM and a mean LC50 value of 2.24 muM in the NCl 60cell-line screen, with LC50 activity in the HCT 116 human colon cancer cell line below 10 nM. The crystal structure of the unsubstituted indolylquinol la exhibits two independent, molecules. both participating in intermolecular hydrogen bonds from quinol OH to carbonyl O-2 but one OH group also interacts intramolecularly with a sulfonyl O atom. This interaction, which strengthens upon ab initio optimization, may influence the chemical environment. of the bioactive quinol moiety. In vivo, significant antitumor activity was recorded (day 28) in mice bearing subcutaneously implanted MDA-MB-435 xenografts, following intraperitoneal treatment of mice with compound 1a at 50 mg/kg.