Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are either two hydrogen atoms or together form a methylene group, and each X is a bromo, iodo or tosyloxy group and the dotted bonds indicate that the central linkage is attached to the two phenyl rings at positions which are either meta to both CH.sub.2 X groups or para to both such groups, possess anti-cancer activity. The active compounds are prepared by multi-step syntheses beginning with dimethoxymethylbenzaldehydes or di(hydroxymethyl)methoxyphenols; many of the intermediates involved are themselves novel.
具有以下结构的化合物##STR1##其中R.sub.1和R.sub.2可以是两个氢原子,也可以一起形成一个亚甲基基团,每个X是
溴、
碘或对
甲苯磺酰氧基团,虚线键表示中心连接部分连接到两个苯环的位置,这些位置要么是对于两个CH.sub.2 X基团,要么是对于两个这样的基团的间位,具有抗癌活性。这些活性化合物是通过多步合成制备的,起始物是二甲氧基甲基
苯甲醛或二(羟甲基)甲氧基
酚;其中许多中间体本身是新颖的。