A method was developed for the preparation of polychloroalkyl derivatives of diarylmethylphosphonates containing a sterically hindered phenol using 3-chloro-2,2-bis(chloromethyl)propanoyl chloride. Primary biological screening revealed low background cytotoxicity for most compounds, consistent with the profile of redox-activated prodrugs, while two derivatives exhibited moderate activity. The developed approach provides a basis for the targeted search for new selective anticancer agents based on modified sterically hindered phenols.
Nguyen et al. (Mon,) studied this question.