Syntheses of certain 3-aryl-2-propenoates and evaluation of their cytotoxicity

A series of 3-aryl-7-propenoates including cinnamates, (E)-methyl/ethyl 3-[ 2-(1, 1-dimethoxy-5,8-dione)naphthalenyl]-2- propenoates (8ba, 8bb) and (E3 )-methyl/ethyl 3-[2-(1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-dione)anthracenyl]-2-propenoates (9 aa, 9ab) was synthesized and evaluated for antitumor cytotoxicity. It was f ound that the or ortho- or para-dihydroxy functionality on the aryl ring wa s essential for the cytotoxicity of cinnamates. Compounds 8ba, 8bb and 9aa, 9ab showed potent cytotoxicity against various tumor cell lines. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.