Synthesis and anticancer activity of chromone-based analogs of lavendustin A

Lavendustin A and hormothamnione were reported to exhibit cytotoxic effects on tumor cell lines. In the present studies, a series of chromone-based lavendustin analogs were synthesized as a simplified hybrid of hormothamnione and lavendustin A by the reductive-amination of formyl-chromone 5 with various amines followed by aminoalkylation. Most compounds synthesized showed significantly improved potencies compared to the standard compound 3 against most of cancer cell lines tested indicating that the removal of styryl group enhanced cancer cell growth inhibitory activities. Compound 4h and 4k showed the most potent inhibitory activities with GI(50) values in the range of 6.01-9.92 mu g/ml on A-549 and HCT-15 cells. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.