New naphthylcombretastatins. Modifications on the ethylene bridge.

Compounds with three aromatic systems, carrying a 2-naphthalene and a 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl moieties bonded to five-membered, six-membered or fused heterocycles display potent cytotoxic effect and inhibition of tubulin polymerization, in agreement with their structural similarity to combretastatins and their heterocyclic analogues.