Efficient microwave-assisted synthesis and antitumor activity of novel 4,4′-methylenebis[2-(3-aryl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)phenols]

Two new series of 4,4′-methylenebis[2-(3-aryl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol- 5-yl)phenols] 4 and methylenebis-2-(3-aryl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4,1- phenylene diacetates 5 have been efficiently prepared starting from the commercially available salicylaldehyde and where the key step corresponded to the microwave-assisted reaction of intermediates 3,3′-[methylenebis(6- hydroxy-3,1-phenylene)]bis(1-arylprop-2-en-1-ones) 3 with hydrazine hydrate or acetic acid/hydrazine hydrate respectively. Three unacetylated compounds type 4 presented interesting antitumor activities against a wide range of tumor cell lines.