Synthesis of heterocycle appended spiro(oxindole-3,2’-pyrrolidine) derivatives from heterocyclic ylidenes and azomethine ylide through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions

Spiro(oxindole-3,2’-pyrrolidine) is a privileged scaffold displaying a wide spectrum of biological activities. A series of these molecules containing heterocyclic rings attached to the pyrrolidine unit has been synthesized utilizing the classical 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylide with heterocyclic ylidenes. The method portrays a two-step functionalization of thiophene/furan with spiropyrrolidine oxindoles in the second/third positions. Biological activity evaluation for antibacterial, cell toxicity, and anticancer potential were done. Compounds exhibited no antibacterial activity. However, they were found to be non-cytotoxic upto 100 µg/ml and to exhibit potent anticancer activity by activating pro-apoptotic genes p53 and caspase 7.