Synthesis, antitumor activity and structure-activity studies of novel pyridoxine-based bioisosteric analogs of estradiol

[Display omitted] •Novel pyridoxine-based bioisosteric analogs of estradiol are synthesized.•Several compounds possess high in vitro antitumor activity and selectivity.•The lead compound induces apoptosis in MCF-7 but not in MDA-MB-231 cells. A new efficient approach to the synthesis of 6-alkenyl substituted pyridoxine derivatives has been developed. A series of 31 novel alkenyl pyridoxine derivatives, stilbene-based bioisosteric analogs of estradiol, were synthesized. In vitro cytotoxicity of the obtained compounds against MCF-7 (ER+) breast cancer tumor cells was studied using the MTT assay. The most active compounds with IC50,MCF-7