Design, synthesis, and anticancer activity of novel aryl/heteroaryl chalcone derivatives

Abstract

A new series of chalcones 5a-l were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antiproliferative activity against human colon cancer cell lines. The synthesis of the key intermediate compounds 3a-d was achieved by tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium(II) mediated Suzuki cross coupling reaction. Chalcone 5a shows superior anticancer activity with IC50 value of 21.0 μg/mL compared to the IC50 value of the reference drug doxorubicin at 21.65 μg/mL.