5,6-Dihydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines as Alternative of New Drugs with Cytotoxic Activity

In this study, the pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines 4a–n were synthesized in good yields in a three steps synthesis from the corresponding α,β-unsaturated esters starting materials. These compounds were tested on six human cancer cells lines to measure the cytotoxic activity as a function of the electronic properties and aromaticity of the substituent at the C-2 position of the pyrroloisoquinoline. Our results reveal that the cytotoxic activity could be explained in terms of the distribution of electronic density across the ring joined to C-2. Also, this study identified 3-hydroxy (4d) and 3-chloro (4j) derivatives with powerful cytotoxic activities. The IC50 values of these compounds were found to be comparable to those of the commercially available Topotecan, Irinotecan, Etoposide, Tamoxifen, and Cisplatin.