Synthesis of the racemic forms of carbon-carbon double bond locked analogues of strobilurins which are characterized by a 2-arylcyclopropane ring cis-substituted at C-1 by the methyl (E)-3-methoxypropenoate unit

The racemic forms of three new carbon-carbon double bond locked analogs of strobilurins I (R = Ph, 2-naphthyl, 6-methoxy-2-naphthyl) which are characterized by a 2-arylcyclopropane ring cis-substituted at C-1 by the Me (E)-3-methoxypropenoate unit, have been synthesized according to a strategy which involves the palladium-catalyzed synthesis of Me (E)-3-methoxy-2-[(Z)-2-(aryl)ethenyl]propenoates and their stereospecific cyclopropanation. Rsn I were screened for anticancer activity.