All trans 1-(3-arylacryloyl)-3,5-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethylene)piperidin-4-ones as curcumin-inspired antineoplastics

A series if E,E,E-1-(3-arylacryloyl)-3,5-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethylene)piperidin-4-ones were designed and synthesized as curcumin-inspired antineoplastics. Several members of this series displayed profound anti-oxidant activity, cytostatic activity against representative cancer cell lines, and catalytic inhibitory activity against human topoisomerase IIα.