A new route for the synthesis of unsymmetrical linear diarylheptanoids 1 and their enantiomers 2 via a common electrophilic intermediate 3 is presented using acyl anion chemistry and Wittig olefination. The cytotoxic activity of all the synthesized linear diarylheptanoids is tested.
A total synthesis of yashabushidiol (1a), a linear diarylheptanoid having 1,3-diol system and its analogues has been achieved by alkynylation of 3-hydroxy-5-phenyl pentanal with substituted phenyl acetylenes. All the compounds have shown significant anti-proliferative activity on human leukemia (THP-1, U-937) and melanoma (A-375) cell lines. Compounds 2a and 2b were found to be most potent with an IC50 of 12.82 mu g/mL and 12.62 mu g/mL, respectively, on THP-1 leukemia cell line. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.