M.M. Elbadawi, W.M. Eldehna, A. Nocentini et al.
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 218 (2021) 113360
better activity than their carboxylic acids and esters analogues,
whereas acetyl and nitro counterparts showed diminished CA
inhibitory activities. Sulfonamide-based sulfones 5 displayed KIs in
the nanomolar range; 72.1e320.4 nM for CA I, 5.9e43.6 nM for CA
II, 4.3e46.1 nM for CA XI, and 5.1e42.4 nM for CA XII. The SAR
analysis pointed out that replacement of the phenyl tail with a p-
tolyl one, as well as branching of the sulfonyl acetamide linker are
more advantageous for the inhibitory activities towards hCA I, II
and IX isoforms. Superiorly, sulfones 5c and 5f emerged as the most
potent herein reported hCA IX inhibitors with single-digit nano-
molar potency (KI ¼ 6.5 and 4.3 nM, respectively), whereas sulfones
5c and 5d stood out as most efficient single-digit nanomolar hCA
XII inhibitors in this study with KIs ¼ 5.1 and 7.9 nM, respectively.
Furthermore, sulfonamide-based sulfone (5f) and carboxylic acid-
based sulfones (8a and 8d) demonstrated interesting selectivity
(100 MHz)
d
ppm: 21.57, 62.76, 119.08,125.98, 126.48, 128.55, 130.17,
130.95, 136.90, 142.67, 145.13, 160.56, 167.28; HRMS (ESI) for
C
15H17O5N2S2, calcd 369.05734, found 369.05809 [MþH]þ.
4.1.2.3. 2-(Phenylsulfonyl)-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)propanamide 5c.
White crystals, m.p. 196e197 ꢁC, yield 79%, 1H NMR (400 MHz)
d
ppm: 1.40 (d, 3H, -CH3-CH-CO, J ¼ 6.8 Hz), 4.36 (q, 1H, eCH3-CH-
CO, J ¼ 6.8 Hz), 7.29 (s, 2H, NH2), 7.65e7.68 (m, 4H, AreH),
7.76e7.80 (m, 3H, AreH), 7.83e7.86 (m, 2H, AreH), 10.62 (s, 1H,
NH); 13C NMR (100 MHz)
d ppm: 12.41, 65.96, 119.57, 127.26, 129.57,
129.71, 134.87, 136.81, 139.73, 141.64, 164.11; HRMS (ESI) for
C
15H17O5N2S2, calcd 369.05734, found 369.05727 [MþH]þ.
4.1.2.4. N-(4-Sulfamoylphenyl)-2-tosylpropanamide 5d. White crys-
tals, m.p. 205e206 ꢁC, yield 71%, 1H NMR (400 MHz)
ppm: 1.37 (d,
d
toward the tumor-related hCA IX isoform over both hCA
I
3H, -CH3-CH-CO, J ¼ 7.2 Hz), 2.41 (s, 3H, eC6H4eCH3), 4.33 (q, 1H,
eCH3-CH-CO, J ¼ 6.8 Hz), 7.29 (s, 2H, NH2), 7.46 (d, 2H, AreH,
J ¼ 8.0 Hz), 7.67 (d, 2H, AreH, J ¼ 8.8 Hz), 7.71 (d, 2H, AreH,
J ¼ 8.0 Hz), 7.78 (d, 2H, AreH, J ¼ 8.8 Hz), 10.63 (s, 1H, NH); 13C
(S.I. ¼ 30.2, >107 and 77.4, respectively) and hCA II (S.I. ¼ 4.7, 34.1
and 21.9, respectively), which suggested them for further biological
evaluation as potential anticancer agents. The anti-proliferative
action for sulfones 5f, 8a and 8d was then examined against
breast (MCF-7) and colon (HCT-116) cancer cell lines. Moreover,
sulfone 5f was further assessed for its action on the cell cycle dis-
tribution and apoptosis in HCT-116 cells. Finally, the molecular
docking study has justified the obtained CA inhibitory activities,
and has explored the binding mode for the target sulfones within
hCA II, IX and XII active sites.
NMR (100 MHz)
d ppm: 12.52, 21.58, 65.98, 119.54, 127.26, 129.61,
130.16, 133.98, 139.63, 141.56, 145.51, 164.12; HRMS (ESI) for
C
16H19O5N2S2, calcd 383.07299, found 383.07305 [MþH]þ.
4.1.2.5. 3-(Phenylsulfonyl)-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)propanamide 5e.
White crystals, m.p. 185e186 ꢁC, yield 75%, 1H NMR (400 MHz)
d
ppm: 2.71 (t, 2H, eCH2-CH2-CO, J ¼ 7.6 Hz), 3.62 (t, 2H, -CH2-CH2-
CO, J ¼ 7.6 Hz), 7.23e7.29 (m, 3H, AreH), 7.64e7.75 (m, 4H, AreH),
7.80 (s, 2H, NH2), 7.92e7.99 (m, 2H, AreH), 10.77 (s, 1H, NH);13
NMR (100 MHz) ppm: 29.96, 51.02, 119.07, 119.79, 127.14, 127.32,
4. Experimental
C
d
4.1. Chemistry
128.25, 129.98, 130.31, 134.45, 135.44,139.10, 140.54, 142.24, 168.37;
HRMS (ESI) for C15H17O5N2S2, calcd 369.05734, found 369.05820
[MþH]þ.
4.1.1. General
The NMR spectra have been recorded on Bruker spectropho-
tometer at 400 MHz. 13C spectra were run at 100 MHz in deuterated
dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO‑d6). Chemical shifts (dH) are reported
relative to TMS as internal standard. High-resolution mass spectra
have been recorded on Bruker MicroTOF spectrometer. Compounds
3a-c [16e19], 7a-c [20e22] and 9 [23] were previously synthesized.
4.1.2.6. N-(4-Sulfamoylphenyl)-3-tosylpropanamide 5f. White crys-
tals, m.p. 219e221 ꢁC, yield 73%, 1H NMR (400 MHz)
d ppm: 2.38 (s,
3H, eC6H4eCH3), 2.69 (t, 2H, eCH2-CH2-CO, J ¼ 7.2 Hz), 3.57 (t, 2H,
-CH2-CH2-CO, J ¼ 7.2 Hz), 7.24 (s, 2H, NH2), 7.44 (d, 2H, AreH,
J ¼ 7.6 Hz), 7.62 (d, 2H, AreH, J ¼ 8.8 Hz), 7.73 (d, 2H, AreH,
J ¼ 8.8 Hz), 7.78 (d, 2H, AreH, J ¼ 8.0 Hz), 10.33 (s, 1H, NH); 13C
4.1.2. General procedure for preparation of target N-phenyl-2-
(phenylsulfonyl) acetamides/propanamides 5a-f, 8a-f and 10a-b
To a hot stirred solution of 2-bromo-N-phenylacetamides (3a-b,
7a-c and 9) and 3-chloro-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)propanamide (3c)
intermediates (0.5 mmol) in absolute ethanol (15 mL), sodium
sulfinates 4a,b (0.65 mmol) were added. The reaction mixture was
then heated under reflux for 14 h (for sulfonamides 5a-f) or 10 h
(for sulfones 8a-f and 10a-b). After the completion of the reaction,
the reaction mixture was evaporated under reduced pressure, and
then cold water (20 mL) was added to the residue. The remaining
solid was filtered-off, dried, and crystalized from acetonitrile to
produce the target sulfones (5a-f, 8a-f and 10a-b) in 68e85% yield.
NMR (100 MHz) d ppm: 21.51, 30.24, 51.10, 119.06, 119.67, 127.11,
128.33, 130.39, 134.87, 136.13, 138.87, 142.18, 144.97, 168.47; HRMS
(ESI) for C16H19O5N2S2, calcd 383.07299, found 383.07307 [MþH]þ.
4.1.2.7. 4-(2-(Phenylsulfonyl)acetamido)benzoic acid 8a. White
crystals, m.p. 247e249 ꢁC, yield 80%, 1H NMR (400 MHz)
d ppm:
4.53 (s, 2H, -CH2-CO), 7.65e7.77 (m, 5H, AreH), 7.86 (d, 2H, AreH,
J ¼ 8.8 Hz), 7.91e7.93 (m, 2H, AreH), 10.77 (s, 1H, NH), 12.01 (s,
1H, COOH); 13C NMR (100 MHz)
d ppm: 62.63, 119.36, 128.52,
129.50, 129.76, 134.37, 134.60, 139.59, 143.10, 160.78, 169.17; HRMS
(ESI) for
C15H13O5NNaS, calcd 342.04066, found 342.04087
[MþNa]þ.
4.1.2.1. 2-(Phenylsulfonyl)-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)acetamide
5a.
4.1.2.8. Ethyl
4-(2-(phenylsulfonyl)acetamido)benzoate
8b.
White crystals, m.p. 213e215 ꢁC, yield 72%, 1H NMR (400 MHz)
White crystals, m.p. 171e173 ꢁC, yield 83%, 1H NMR (400 MHz)
d
ppm: 4.52 (s, 2H, -CH2-CO), 7.31 (s, 2H, NH2), 7.59 (d, 2H, AreH,
d
ppm: 1.28 (t, 3H, CH3eCH2-, J ¼ 7.2 Hz), 4.25 (q, 2H, CH3eCH2-,
J
¼
8.8 Hz), 7.65e7.77 (m, 3H, AreH), 7.89 (d, 2H, AreH,
J ¼ 7.2 Hz), 4.54 (s, 2H, -CH2-CONH-), 7.62 (d, 2H, AreH, J ¼ 8.8 Hz),
7.67 (d, 2H, AreH, J ¼ 8.0 Hz), 7.74 (t, 1H, AreH, J ¼ 8.0 Hz), 7.91 (d,
J ¼ 8.4 Hz), 7.91 (d, 2H, AreH, J ¼ 8.8 Hz), 10.60 (s, 1H, NH); 13C
NMR (100 MHz)
d
ppm: 62.84, 119.10, 126.47, 128.49, 129.75, 130.96,
4H, AreH, J ¼ 8.8 Hz), 10.64 (s, 1H, NH); 13C NMR (100 MHz)
d ppm:
134.57, 139.81, 142.45, 160.41, 167.07.
14.66, 61.00, 62.61, 119.18, 125.54, 128.48, 129.75, 130.79, 134.57,
139.66, 142.93, 160.54, 165.67; HRMS (ESI) for C17H18O5NS, calcd
348.09002, found 348.09024 [MþH]þ.
4.1.2.2. N-(4-Sulfamoylphenyl)-2-tosylacetamide 5b. White crystals,
m.p. 227e228 ꢁC, yield 68%, 1H NMR (400 MHz)
d ppm: 2.42 (s, 3H,
eC6H4eCH3), 4.47 (s, 2H, -CH2-CO), 7.27 (s, 2H, NH2), 7.45 (d, 2H,
AreH, J ¼ 8.0 Hz), 7.60 (d, 2H, AreH, J ¼ 8.8 Hz), 7.78 (d, 2H, AreH,
J ¼ 8.4 Hz), 7.90 (d, 2H, AreH, J ¼ 8.4 Hz), 10.59 (s, 1H, NH); 13C NMR
4.1.2.9. N-(4-Acetylphenyl)-2-(phenylsulfonyl)acetamide
White crystals, m.p. 209e210 ꢁC, yield 74%, 1H NMR (400 MHz)
ppm: 2.51 (s, 3H, -COCH3), 4.53 (s, 2H, -CH2-CONH-), 7.61 (d, 2H,
8c.
d
8