Synthesis, cytotoxic evaluation of novel 2-((1H-indol-3-yl) methyl)-5-alkyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole and 2-alkyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives

Interest in the biological applications of oleochemicals has resulted in the development of new heterocyclic compounds from the fatty acids which are renewable raw materials. In the present study the synthesis of hybrid compounds by involving fatty acids, indole-3-acetic acid (heteryl) and trimethoxy benzoic acid (aryl) to derive 2, 5-substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety using molecular hybridization approach has been carried out. A series of novel 2-((1H-indol-3-yl) methyl)-5-alkyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles 4a-j and 2-alkyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole 8a-j analogues have been synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity against A549, MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines. Almost all the tested compounds reveal cytotoxicity against all the cell lines, especially 2-((1H-indol-3-yl) methyl)-5-alkyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles based compounds (4c, 4d, 4e) which display potent inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging between 8.26 to 11.36 mu M.