Synthesis and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Novel 3-O and 2, 3-Di-O-alkyl Derivatives of L-Ascorbic Acid

A series of protected and unprotected 3-O and 2, 3-di-O-alkyl derivatives of L-ascorbic acid were synthesized and their cytotoxic activity against metastatic breast epithelial carcinoma (MCF-7) cell line was evaluated. Cytotoxic activity evaluation indicated that compounds show moderate cytotoxic effects on tested cell line. Some of the 2, 3-di-O-alkyl derivatives of L-ascorbic acid exhibited potent inhibiting activity against MCF-7 cell line at micromolar concentrations. 2,3-di-O-4-chlorobenzyl- L-ascorbic acid exhibited 4 fold more cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 34.09 μM ) against MCF-7 cell line than L-ascorbic acid. 2, 3-di-O-alkyl derivatives exhibited more inhibition against MCF-7 cell line as compared to the 3-O-alkyl derivatives of L-Ascorbic acid.