A novel synthesis of (E)-3-methylthio-3-substituted arylamino-2-cyanoacrylates under microwave irradiation.

A facile synthesis of 3-methylthio-3-arylamino-2-cyanoacrylates from 3,3-dimethylthioacrylate and aromatic amines or amino pyridines has been achieved in moderate to high yields (64.0% ~ 93.5%) in 30 minutes at 50 degrees C under microwave irradiation. This method is very simple and the reaction conditions are mild, environmentally friendly and more importantly, quick. In the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test, some of the title compounds were found to possess good antiproliferation activity towards PC3 cells.