“…The synthesis of starting materials, 2a-d, 2f, and 5, was carried out by Wittig reaction (Ph 3 P=CHCOOEt, benzene, reflux) of the corresponding salicyladehydes and the following propargylation with propargyl bromide (K 2 CO 3 /DMF, rt) or benzylation with 2-bromobenzyl bromide (K 2 CO 3 /DMF, rt). Other starting materials, 2e and 7, were prepared by sequential propargylation of salicyladehyde followed by Knoevenagel condensation reaction with CH 3 CN (KOH, reflux) 8 or with malononitrile (Ph 3 P, benzene, reflux). …”