β-Lactam synthon-interceded diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized octahydroindole-based molecular scaffolds and their in vitro cytotoxic evaluation

A convenient and unprecedented synthesis of functionally enriched octahydroindole-based scaffolds has been developed via inter- and intra-molecular amidolysis of C-3 functionalized β-lactams. The cytotoxic evaluation on oesophageal cancer cell line WHCO1 has revealed 7d as the most potent of the test compounds exhibiting an IC50 value of 12.97μM. The developed strategy further assumes significance as it entails the preparation of highly functionalized indoles without the aid of transition metal catalysis or pre-functionalization of substrates. β-Lactam synthon-mediated diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized novel octahydroindole-based scaffolds along with their cytotoxic evaluation against oesophageal cancer cell line WHCO1. [Display omitted] ► Synthesis of octahydroindole-based scaffolds using β-lactam synthon approach. ► Synthesis of functionalized indoles without the aid of transition metal catalysis. ► Compound 7d exhibited an IC50 value of 12.97μM in cytotoxic studies on WHCO1 cell lines.