Synthesis and biological activity of linear and angular 4-methoxymethylthienocoumarins and 4-acetoxymethylthienocoumarins.

This paper reports the synthesis of 4-methoxymethyl and 4-acetoxymethyl-6,9-dimethyl-2H-thieno[3,2-g]-1-benzopyran-2-one as well as 4-methoxymethyl- and 4-acetoxymethyl-6,9-dimethyl-2H-thieno[2,3-h]-1-benzopyran-2-one. The synthesized derivatives were tested on human cells in UVA irradiation conditions. Skin phototoxicity and cross-link formation in DNA were also studied. Results indicate that the new thienocoumarins have good antiproliferative activity, greater than that of the well-known photochemotherapeutic drug 8-methoxypsoralen, but they are practically devoid of skin photosensitization effects.