Synthesis and anti-cancer activity evaluation of new aurone derivatives

In this study, we have synthesized 2-[3- or 4-(2-aryl-2-oxoethoxy)arylidene]benzofuran-3-one derivatives (D1–D38) and evaluated their anti-cancer activities. The final compounds were obtained in multistep synthesis reactions using benzofuranon-3-one derivatives (A1–A4, B) as starting materials which were gained in various synthetic ways. Aurone derivatives (C1–C10) were acquired with the condensation reaction of these starting materials and 3-/4-hydroxybenzaldehyde which were then reacted with α-bromoacetophenones to get final compounds. The anti-cancer activity of the selected compounds was performed by National Cancer Institute (NCI), USA against 60 human tumor cell lines derived from nine neoplastic diseases. Compounds exhibited anti-cancer activity in varying ratios.