New substituted trichostatic acid derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated for their biological activities towards the H661 non-small lung cancer cell line. These syntheses were achieved by alkylation of propiophenones to introduce the side chain with a terminal precursor of hydroxamic acid and aminobenzamide derivatives. The first fluorinated derivatives of trichostatic acid are described, such as 6-fluoro trichostatin A, with antiproliferative activities in the micromolar range and with histone deacetylase inhibitory activity.

A new method for the preparation of enantiopure 2,2-disubstituted 2,3-dihydro-benzofuran-3-ols is described. A short synthesis is designed for obtaining various 2,2-disubstitued benzofuran-3-ols as racemic mixtures of the two possible syn and anti diastereoisomers, which can be separated after silylation. The major racemic anti isomers were transesterified using (R)-pentolactone, allowing separation of the pure enantiomers.