A series of 1‐aryl‐3‐isopropylamino‐1‐propanone hydrochlorides 1 and a related heterocyclic analog 2 as candidate antineoplastic agents were prepared and the rationale for designing these compounds is presented. A specific objective in this study is the discovery of novel compounds possessing growth‐inhibiting properties of hepatomacells. The compounds in series 1 and 2 were prepared and their structures