A modified and efficient Knoevenagel condensation procedure was developed to synthesize the title compounds using β-alanine and acetic acid as catalysts, showing good to excellent yields. We used lawsone with suitable aliphatic aldehydes including isobutyraldehyde, 3-methyl-butyraldehyde, 2-ethylbutyraldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, 2-phenyl-propionaldehyde, among others. These compounds were submitted to cytotoxic screening against three tumor cell lines presenting good to excellent cytotoxic profiles.
Keywords:
1,4-naphthoquinones; 3-alkenyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones; lawsone; Knoevenagel condensation; cytotoxic evaluation
