Synthesis and in vitro antitumor activity of new butenolide-containing dithiocarbamates.

Three series of butenolide-containing dithiocarbamates were designed and synthesized. Their anti-tumor activity in vitro was evaluated. Among them compound I-14 exhibited broad spectrum anti-cancer activity against five human cancer cell lines with IC(50) <30 µM. Structure-activity relationship analysis showed that the introduction of dithiocarbamate side chains on the C-3 position of butenolide was crucial for anti-tumor activity.