Zinc Tetrafluoroborate Catalyzed Synthesis, Molecular Docking and Cytotoxicity of Pyrrolidinyl Aminophosphonates

A series of novel dimethyl ((aryl/heteroarylamino) (4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl) phenyl)) methyl phosphonates were synthesized by simple and an efficient one-pot three component Kabachnik- Fields reaction. Pyrrolidino-4-benzaldehyde (1), different substituted amines 2a-l and dimethylphosphite (3) were reacted at room temperature using aqueous zinc tetrafluoroborate as catalyst under solvent free conditions to obtain the title compounds 4a-l. The anticancer activity was predicted by in silico studies where the best interactions were observed against aromatase, a potential cancer target and even their molecular descriptors and ADME attributes prompted them as safe drug like molecules. Their in vitro evaluation by MTT assay against human prostate cancer cells (PC-3M) revealed their potential anticancer activity when compared with the standard drug cyclophosphamide encouraging their use to control and manage prostate malignancy