Antineoplastic agents. 465. Structural modification of resveratrol: Sodium resverastatin phosphate

As an extension of structure/activity investigations of resveratrol (1), phenstatin (2c), and the cancer antiangiogenesis drug sodium combretastatin A-4 phosphate (2b), syntheses of certain related stilbenes (14) and benzophenones (16) were undertaken. The trimethyl ether derivative of (Z)-resveratrol (4a) exhibited the strongest activity (GI(50) = 0.01-0.001 mug/mL) against a minipanel of human cancer cell lines. A monodemethylated derivative (14c) was converted to prodrug 14n (sodium resverastatin phosphate) for further biological evaluation. The antitubulin and antimicrobial activities of selected compounds were also evaluated.