Synthesis of new coumarin 3-(N-aryl) sulfonamides and their anticancer activity

Synthesis of coumarin 3-(N-aryl) sulfonamides was accomplished either by Knoevenagel condensation of anilmosulfonylacetic acids with suitable salicylaidehydes or by the reaction of methyl anilmosulfonylacetates with substituted salicylaldehydes in presence of a catalytic amount of a base. All the compounds tested for antiproliferative activity in different cancer cell lines have shown GI(50) values less than 100 muM. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.