Design, synthesis and photobiological properties of 3,4-cyclopentenepsoralens

The QSAR directed synthesis of new cyclopentenepsoralens is reported. The derivative carrying the dimethylaminopropoxy side chain (5) exerted a noticeable photoantiproliferative activity, in agreement with the calculated posterior probability. The study of the photobiological properties evidenced the absence of skin phototoxicity and the ability to photoadd covalently to DNA.