New derivatives of hydantoin as potential antiproliferative agents: Biological and structural characterization in combination with quantum chemical calculations

Abstract

Two new series of hydantoin derivatives, 3-(4-substituted benzyl)-5,5-diphenyl- and 3-(4-substituted benzyl)-5-ethyl-5-phenylhydantoins, were synthesized and their antiproliferative activity was tested against human colon cancer HCT-116 and breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The presence of different substituents on both hydantoin and benzyl moieties changed the antiproliferative activity of the investigated hydantoins, whereby most of the compounds showed superior antiproliferative activity against MDA-MB-231 than against the HCT-116 cell line. The structure of three compounds was studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The general structural characteristic is the presence of N-H···O hydrogen bonds in crystal packings. The molecular geometry and bonding features of the investigated hydantoins in the ground states were calculated using the density functional method. The relationship between structure and antiproliferative activity was discussed. The data presented in this investigation afford guidelines for the preparation of new hydantoin derivatives with greater antiproliferative activity. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2014 Springer-Verlag Wien.