Spirocyclic Derivatives as Antioxidants: A Review

Author: mycolabadmin
2021-06-21
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Summary

This research examines how certain spiral-shaped molecules can act as powerful antioxidants, which are substances that help protect our bodies from harmful free radicals. These molecules can be either found in nature or created in laboratories, and they show promise for developing new medicines. The study’s impact on everyday life includes: – Development of new and more effective antioxidant supplements for better health maintenance – Creation of improved medications for treating diseases related to oxidative stress like cancer and neurodegenerative conditions – Discovery of natural sources of antioxidants that could be incorporated into functional foods – Advancement in preservation techniques for food and cosmetic products – Potential for developing more effective anti-aging products and treatments

Background

Spiro compounds, molecules containing two rings with only one shared atom, are an essential class of synthetic or naturally occurring substances. Their good balance between conformational restriction and flexibility makes them free from absorption and permeability issues. Although spirocyclic systems are unusual scaffolds for bioactive molecules, recent progress on isolation and characterization of new compounds from natural products and new synthetic routes have facilitated their incorporation into more molecules with pharmacological applications.

Objective

This review aims to provide an overview of the synthesis and various antioxidant activities found in naturally occurring and synthetic spiro compounds. The review examines different antioxidant activities including DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, anti-LPO, superoxide, xanthine oxidase, peroxide, hydroxyl, and nitric oxide tests among others.

Results

The most abundant spiro heterocycles with antioxidant properties were [4.5.0], followed by [4.4.0]. Molecules that presented best results were spiro compounds G14, C12, D41, C18, C15, D5, D11, E1, and C14. The most active compounds were characterized by having at least one oxygen atom, with about 35% being phenolic compounds. In molecules where phenolic groups were absent, aryl ethers and nitrogen-containing functional groups such as amine and amides were found.

Conclusion

Spirocyclic compounds of synthetic origin demonstrated better antioxidant activity in most of the reviewed tests compared to compounds of natural origin. However, the discovery of natural spiro compounds has increased in recent years. These compounds are likely to inspire new pathways for drug design based on antioxidant properties and development of new synthetic libraries. Spiro heterocycles continue to be an essential structural scaffold in medicinal chemistry.

Published in:RSC Advances,
Study Type:Review,
Source: 10.1039/d1ra01170g