Synthesis of 2‐(pyridylvinyl)chromen‐4‐ones and their N‐oxide analogs for assessment of their biological activities as anticancer agents

Abstract 2‐Styrylchromones have been shown to possess a broad spectrum of biological activities. Replacing the carbon atom in 2‐styrylchromones with a nitrogen atom in the benzene rings forms 2‐(pyridylvinyl)chromen‐4‐ones (aza‐2‐styrylchromones). We have synthesized a series of novel 2‐(pyridylvinyl)chromen‐4‐ones and their pyridine N ‐oxides to evaluate them as potential anticancer agents against human non‐small‐cell lung cancer cells (A549). Among the 18 synthesized molecules, compounds 18 and 8a exhibited comparable inhibitory effects to 5‐fluorouracil and showed no toxicity against normal cells.