Molecular Modeling Study of Bis-sulfonamide Derivatives Synthesis Targeting Aromatase Enzyme as Anticancer

Abstract

Most studies indicate the important role of estrogen in the mechanism of occurrence and development of breast cancer. The importance of our research is the synthesis of bis-sulfonamide compounds that inhibit the aromatase enzyme, which is the main enzyme in the biosynthesis of estrogen. Molecular modeling of studied compounds was carried out by Molegro Virtual Docker (MVD) targeting aromatase enzyme and binding energy calculated to select the most encouraging compound. The highest binding energy among the studied compounds was -118.52 kcal/mol (compound A5) comparing with the aromatase substrate androstenedione -132.51 kcal/mol and the aromatase inhibitor letrozole -136.52 kcal/mol. Several of these compounds were synthesized in a simple way with good yields by reacting sulfonyl chloride derivatives with amino derivatives in an alkaline aqueous solution, or in a pyridine solution. The physicochemical characteristics and identification of synthesized compounds were determined by various analytical methods such as Mass spectrometry, Infrared spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.