γ-Lactones α,β- and β,γ-fused to carbocycles as novel antiproliferative drugs

A set of γ-lactones α,β-fused and β,γ-fused to carbocycles have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activities using the human cancer cell lines SW1573 (lung), T-47D (breast) and WiDr (colon). The compounds are obtained by intramolecular ring closing metathesis of the corresponding dienes. Active compounds exhibited GI50 values in the range 8–18 μM. A structure–activity relationship is also discussed.