Synthesis,psychotropic and anticancer activity of 2,2‐dimethyl‐5‐[5′‐trialkylgermyl(silyl)‐2′‐hetarylidene]‐1,3‐dioxane‐4,6‐diones and their analogues

A series of 2,2‐dimethyl‐5‐(5′‐R‐hetarylidene)‐1,3‐dioxane‐4,6‐diones has been synthesized for examing a structure–activity relationship. Furyl and thienyl derivatives of Meldrum's acid possess neurotropic activity comprising both depriming and activating components. Comparison of acute toxicity of carbon, silicon and germanium analogues in the furan series of the compounds has demonstrated that the germanium derivative is 11.5 times less toxic than the carbon analogue and four times less toxic than the silicon derivative. 2,2‐Dimethyl‐5‐(5′‐triethylsilyl‐2′‐thenylidene)‐1,3‐dioxane‐4,6‐dione has moderate toxicity with the highest neurotropic and cytotoxic activity Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.