Abstract
A series of conformationally flexible and restricted dimers of monastrol as well as related dihydropyrimidones have been synthesized by employing one-pot Biginelli multicomponent reaction. These dimers have been evaluated for cytotoxic potency against selected human cancer cell lines and some of the compounds have exhibited more cytotoxic potency than the parent monastrol. Further. the DNA binding ability by thermal denaturation studies and antimicrobial activities of these compounds are also discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.