Aryl butenoic acid derivatives as a new class of histone deacetylase inhibitors: Synthesis, in vitro evaluation, and molecular docking studies

New aryl butenoic acid derivatives have been synthesized by combining hydroxy- or methoxy-substituted phenyl rings as the capping group, with a double bond in the short linker as well as metal binding groups, enoic ester, and salts bearing either methyl or morpholine. These compounds have been shown to possess promising histone deacetylase inhibition activities via in vitro uorometric assay and molecular docking studies.