Synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone bearing naphthalene and naphtho[2,1-b]furan derivatives

Naphthalene alpha-methlene-gamma-butyrolactones exhibits a unique cytotoxicity profile. They are highly cytostatic for leukaemia cancer cells but are not cytocidal. For almost all the solid tumours tested. they are both cytostatic and cytocidal. Substitution of a bromo atom on either naphthalene or both naphthalene and gamma-phenyl moiety of the lactone enhanced potency while retaining the same cytotoxicity profile. The tricyclic naphtho[2.1-b]furan derivatives. prepared from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde in an efficient pathway, also possess the same cytotoxicity profile. (C) 2002 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.