Design and synthesis of analogs of vitamin E: Antiproliferative activity against human breast adenocarcinoma cells

Analogs of α-tocopherol (vitamin E; compounds 3–9) have been synthesized and tested for their antiproliferative activity using the human breast cancer cell line, MCF7. Compounds 6–9 were synthesized from a common synthon, rac-Trolox (14) and are soluble/miscible at physiological pH. Compounds 4, 8, and 9 were found to have antiproliferative activity at micromolar concentrations.