Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of pterostilbene and 3′-methoxy pterostilbene Mannich base derivatives against Hela cells.

Fourteen novel pterostilbene (1) and [Formula: see text]-methoxy pterostilbene (2) Mannich base derivatives (3-16) were synthesized via the microwave-assisted Mannich reaction of 1 or 2 with various secondary amines and formaldehyde. The regioselectivity of the reaction occurred preferentially at [Formula: see text] position of the B-ring of stilbene. The biological testing results showed that all the target compounds exhibit antiproliferative activity against Hela cells from [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]. Compounds 1-3, 7, 11-13, and 16 displayed higher (lower [Formula: see text] values) activity than the positive control cisplatin [Formula: see text].