Synthesis of new 5-bromo derivatives of indole and spiroindole phytoalexins

Electrophilic aromatic substitution is one of the most thoroughly studied reactions in organic chemistry. In the present paper, the 5-brominated spirobrassinol methyl ethers VII, VIII were obtained by electrophilic substitution of the aromatic core of indoline at the C-5 position in the presence of various brominating agents. The same products were also prepared from 5-bromoindole (IX) following the sequence for the synthesis 1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether (V) from indoline. In addition, the new related 5-bromospiroindoline derivatives XX–XXIII were synthesised and their biological activity on human tumour cell lines was examined. The presence of bromine in the indole or indoline skeleton at the C-5 position resulted in the partial increase in anticancer activity on leukaemia cell lines (Jurkat, CEM). The structures of the newly prepared products were determined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, including HSQC, HMBC, COSY, NOESY and DEPT measurements.