3-Arylidene-1-(4-nitrophenylmethylene)-3,4-dihydro-1H-naphthalen-2-ones and related compounds displaying selective toxicity and reversal of multidrug resistance in neoplastic cells.

The incorporation of the 1-aryl-5-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-oxo-1,4-pentadienyl group into 3,4-dihydro-1H-naphthalenyl, cyclohexyl, 2,3-dihydro-1H-indenyl and cyclopentyl scaffolds led to the discovery of various compounds with selective toxicity for malignant cells and ability to reverse multidrug resistance.