Cytotoxicity studies of novel combretastatin and pterostilbene derivatives

We synthesised seven 2-aminestilbenes with methoxy substitents in reactions of dinitrostilbenes with sodium azide. In order to study the positioning of the nitro groups, the optimum structure of obtained stilbenes using the DFT B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,p) method was calculated. Very interesting aspect of this regioselectivity reaction is the fact that in all substrates and synthetized compounds the nitro groups in position 2 were not coplanar whereas the para-nitro groups were coplanar with respect to the benzene ring. Due to unique features of stilbene derivatives, such as antitumor agents, we undertook the studies on the biological properties of new stilbene derivatives. Using five cancer cell lines, we investigated the effects of 2-aminestilbenes with methoxy substitents on cell growth.