Highly functionalized pyrrolidine analogues: stereoselective synthesis and caspase-dependent apoptotic activity.

Novel spiropyrrolidine heterocyclic hybrids were synthesized for the first time in a sustainable fashion employing a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition strategy to form a new class of azomethine ylides generated from tyrosine and acenaphthenequinone. Following their synthesis and characterization, these heterocyclic hybrids were tested for their anticancer activities by incubation at different concentrations and durations with different cancer and non-cancer cell cultures, and the results indicated a potential therapeutic activity. Further analysis of cancer cell death revealed that it occurred through a caspase-related apoptotic pathway, specifically mediated by caspase-3. These results demonstrated that the obtained spiropyrrolidine heterocyclic hybrids may be good hit compounds for the development of potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of malignant tumors.