Role of symmetry in 3,3-diphenyl-1,3-dihydroindol-2-one derivatives as inhibitors of translation initiation

•Transforming the chiral DDOI 3-phenyl,3-(2-hydroxy, 4-tert-butyl)phenyl-1,3-dihydroindol-2-one, into achiral 3,3-(o,m-disubstituted)diarylindolin-2-ones.•Most active compounds inhibit cancer cell proliferation at single digit or sub-micromolar concentrations.•The lead achiral 3,3-(o,m-disubstituted)diarylindolin-2-ones may form basis of an anti-cancer drug development program.