Bioactive 4-substituted-6-methyl-2-pyrones with promising cytotoxicity against A2780 and K562 cell lines.

Bioactive synthetic 4-substituted-6-methyl-2-pyrones are reported. Various 4-substitutents have been incorporated using Pd-catalysed carbon-carbon bond coupling procedures. Preliminary screening of the 2-pyrones against human ovarian carcinoma (A2780) and human chronic myelogenous leukaemia (K562) cell lines show that 4-alkynyl-6-methyl-2-pyrones have excellent potential as anticancer agents. The pyrones demonstrate broad spectrum antimicrobial activities.