Synthesis of yashabushidiol and its analogues and their cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines.

A total synthesis of yashabushidiol (1a), a linear diarylheptanoid having 1,3- diol system and its analogues has been achieved by alkynylation of 3-hydroxy-5-phenyl pentanal with substituted phenyl acetylenes. All the compounds have shown significant anti-proliferative activity on human leukemia (THP-1, U-937) and melanoma (A-375) cell lines. Compounds 2a and 2b were found to be most potent with an IC(50) of 12.82 microg/mL and 12.62 microg/mL, respectively, on THP-1 leukemia cell line.