Dispiroindolinone–Glutarimide Conjugates: Synthesis and Evaluation as Potential Hetero-PROTACs for p53 Reactivation

A convergent scheme for the preparation of conjugates with the dispiroindolinone-pyrrolidine-thioimidazolone and glutarimide moieties connected via a triazole-containing linker is proposed. Target conjugates were synthesized by azide–alkyne (3+2) cycloaddition reactions between propargylthio-substituted dispiroindolinone-pyrrolidine-imidazolones and an azido-glutarimide derivative. The starting compounds were available isothiocyanates, glycine, substituted benzaldehydes, chloroacetamide, and ethyl acrylate. The key azide–alkyne (3+2) cycloaddition step was carried out using TBTA as a catalyst, achieving >70% product yields. The resulting bifunctional compounds contained a fragment of dispiroindolinone (a p53-MDM2 interaction inhibitor) and glutarimide, a ubiquitin ligase ligand. The obtained dispiroindolinone-glutarimide conjugates were tested for their potential as hetero-PROTAC compounds for p53 reactivation. Individual conjugates showed preferential cytotoxicity against HCT116 colon carcinoma cells (wild-type53) compared to the isogenic HCT116p53−/− subline.