Simple 2(5H)-furanone derivatives with selective cytotoxicity towards non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549 - Synthesis, structure-activity relationship and biological evaluation.

A series of 5-alkoxy derivatives of 3,4-dichloro-5-hydroxyfuran-2-(5H)-one (mucochloric acid, MCA) were obtained and subsequently subjected to modification in the C-4 position of 2(5H)-furanone ring. The cytotoxicity of newly synthesized compounds was evaluated in MTT assay against non-small cell lung cancer (A549) and healthy lung epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B). The derivatives containing a branched alkoxy substituent in the C-5 position demonstrated the highest anticancer properties, whereas modification of compounds in the C-4 position of 2(5H)-furanone ring only slightly improve their antiproliferative properties.