A series of simple desmethoxy analogues of coruscanone A was prepared via a novel version of Ti (iPrO) 4-mediated Knoevenagel condensation of cyclopentenedione with substituted benzaldehydes and cinnamic aldehydes, and the compounds were evaluated for antifungal activity and cytotoxicity. The most potent 2-benzylidenecyclopent-4-ene-1, 3- dione possessed antifungal effect comparable to coruscanone A and a somewhat broader ...