Abstract
Baylis Hillman reaction has been achieved on different organic motifs but with completion times of three to six days. Micellar medium of CTAB in water along with the organic base DABCO has been used to effect the Baylis Hillman reaction on a steroidal nucleus of Withaferin A for the first time with different aromatic aldehydes within a day to synthesize a library of BH adducts (W1a W14a) and (W1b W14b) as a mixture of two isomers and W15 as a single compound. The isomers were separated on column and the major components were chosen for bio evaluation. Cytotoxic activity of the synthesized compounds was screened against a panel of four cancer cell lines Lung A 549, Breast MCF 7, Colon HCT 116 and Leukemia THP 1 along with 5 florouracil and Mitomycin C as references. All the compounds exhibited promising activity against screened cell lines and were found to possess enhaunced activity than parent compound. BH adducts with aromatic systems having methoxy and nitro groups were found to be more active.