Synthesis and anticancer evaluation of vitamin K3 analogues

Novel vitamin K3 analogues were synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activity. Compound 6, 9, 10, 11, 14, and (±)15 demonstrated a strong inhibitory activity against the tumor cells of A-549, Hep G2, MCF7, MES-SA, MES-SA/Dx5, MKN45, SW-480, and TW-039. Compound (±)15 displayed potent tumor cell cytotoxicity, and compound 14 selectively affected MCF7, even though it did not influence normal cells Detroit551 and WI-38. Compound (±)15 inhibited MES-SA and MES-SA/Dx5, and this specific result shows that compound (±)15 may become a good anticancer drug candidate.