Synthesis, structure and cytotoxic activity of new 1‐[5‐organylsilyl(germyl)‐2‐furyl (thienyl)]nitroethenes

New highly cytotoxic 1-[5-organylsilyl(germyl)-2-furyl(thienyl)]nitroethenes (IC500.3–3 µg ml−1) have been prepared by condensation reaction of corresponding silicon- and germanium-containing heterocyclic aldehydes with nitromethane using ammonium acetate as the catalyst. The desired nitroethenes were identified by NMR (1H, 13C and 29Si), IR, HRMS and GC-MS spectra. The structure of 1-(5-triphenylsilyl-2-thienyl)nitroethene was studied by X-ray. The influence of the substituent structure on the cytotoxicity was investigated. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.