Abstract A series of ortho and para-nitrobenzyl esters of short chain fatty acids (C 2 to C 5) and of the lipophilic aminoacid, l-valine, and some other o-nitrobenzylated products were prepared. Bioreductive or hydrolytic cleavages of these compounds could release both differentiation promoting agents such as butyric acid and electrophilic moieties able to alkylate DNA. The antitumor effect of these compounds, either alone and/or associated ...
