Design, Synthesis, and Anticancer Evaluation of Novel Chalcone Derivatives Bearing a 2-[4-(Pyridin-4-yl)isoxazol-3-yl)benzoxazole Moiety

A series of novel chalcone derivatives bearing a pyridylisoxazole–benzoxazole moiety were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro anticancer activity against four human cancer cell lines. The majority of the synthesized compounds exhibited significant anticancer potency. Among them, six compounds demonstrated activity comparable to the reference drug etoposide, and one derivative, 1-(3,5-dinitrophenyl)-3-{2-[4-(pyridin-4-yl)isoxazol-3-yl]benzo[d]oxazol-5-yl}prop-2-en-1-one, was found to be more potent than the positive control.