Pharmaceutical applications of cyclopropyl containing scaffolds: a review on recent updates

Carbocycles have been widely employed in the development of pharmaceutically active scaffolds. Cyclopropane has attracted significant attention from researchers due to its unique chemical properties among carbocycles. Subsequently, this review will focus on cyclopropane-containing pharmaceutical drug products that have been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and are used to treat a wide variety of medical conditions. In addition to the synthesis of the cyclopropyl moiety through various chemical reactions, such as the Corey–Chaykovsky reaction and the Simmons–Smith reaction. Several cyclopropane-containing pharmaceutical drugs have been reported to exert significant anti-coagulant effects. Additionally, they also exhibit inhibitory activity against MET, a receptor tyrosine kinase, as well as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2). Moreover, they showed cytotoxicity by inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRL858R/T790M). In addition to antidiabetic, anti-Alzheimer, antimalarial, antimicrobial, anti-convulsant and anti-depressant activities. Herein, we present the pharmaceutical applications of cyclopropane-containing derivatives, shedding light on the structure–activity relationship (SAR), along with some commonly reported methods for their synthesis.