Synthesis, biological and electrochemical evaluation of glycidyl esters of phosphorus acids as potential anticancer drugs

Organophosphorus compounds are important in synthetic organic chemistry and pharmaceutical applications due to their diverse biological activities. In this study, we synthesized three novel glycidyl esters of phosphorus acids 1 – 3 via the condensation of chlorophosphine oxides or phosphorus oxychloride with glycidol in the presence of a base, obtaining products with high purity and moderate to excellent yields. Their cytotoxic potential was evaluated using the MTT assay on human fibroblasts (HSF), prostate cancer (PC-3), and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines, revealing moderate preferential cytotoxicity toward cancer cells, particularly in the case of MCF7. Additionally, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) studies on human serum albumin (HSA) were conducted to investigate their alkylating properties. The electrochemical results suggest that these compounds effectively modify albumin, highlighting their potential as reactive anticancer agents. These findings provide important insights into the synthesis, cytotoxic activity, and biochemical reactivity of glycidyl esters of phosphorus acids, underscoring their potential as lead structures for further development in anticancer drug discovery and pharmaceutical research.