Abstract A novel series of phenylimino-10H-anthracen-9-ones and 9-(phenylhydrazone)-9, 10-anthracenediones were synthesized and evaluated for interaction with tubulin and for cytotoxicity against a panel of human tumor cell lines. The 10-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy- phenylimino)-10H-anthracen-9-one 15h and its dichloro analog 16b were identified as potent inhibitors of tumor cell growth (16b, IC 50 K562 0.11 μM), including multidrug ...