Remarkable G2/M phase arrest and apoptotic effect performed by 2-(6-aryl-3-hexen-1,5-diynyl) benzonitrile antitumor agents.

2-(6-aryl-3-hexen-1,5-diynyl)benzonitriles 3a-j showed growth inhibition effects on a full panel of 60 human cancer cell lines in low micro-concentrations, in which compounds 3c,d displayed a significant G2/M arrest in the cell growth cycle compared with other derivatives and an apoptotic progress induction were also shown by 3a-d.