Facile synthesis of hydantoin/1,2,4-oxadiazoline spiro-compounds via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to 5-iminohydantoins

The cycloaddition of 1,3-dipoles at C=N bonds is a relatively rare process, in contrast to the widespread cycloaddition reactions at C=C, C≡C, and C=S bonds. In this study, we present the syntheses of novel hydantoin/1,2,4-oxadiazoline spiro-compounds using a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to C=N bonds of 5-iminohydantoins. The efficiency of the approach was demonstrated by varying the substituents at four positions of the resulting spirocyclic molecules. Cytotoxicity of the target hydantoin/1,2,4-oxadiazolines was shown to exceed previously known spiro-compounds bearing only hydantoins or 1,2,4-oxadiazolines (IC50 values were 30–50 μM, HCT116 cell lines).