Synthesis, crystal structures and in vitro antitumor activities of some arylantimony derivatives of analogues of demethylcantharimide

A series of novel arylantimony derivatives of analogues of demethylcantharimide with the formulae Ar_nSbL_(5−n) and Ar_nSbL^′_(5−n)(LH=N-hydroxy-demethyldehydrogencantharimide, L^′H=N-hydroxy-demethylcantharimide, n=3, 4; ArC₆H₅, 4-CH₃C₆H₄, 3-CH₃C₆H₄, 2-CH₃C₆H₄, 4-ClC₆H₄, 4-FC₆H₄) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR and mass spectroscopy. The crystal structures of (C₆H₅)₄SbL, (4-CH₃C₆H₄)₃SbL₂ and (3-CH₃C₆H₄)₃SbL^′₂ were determined by X-ray diffraction. The in vitro antitumor activities of all compounds against six cancer cells are reported.