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a b s t r a c tA novel library of 15 compounds, hydroxyamides and amides containing a b-D-glucopyranose (D-Gluc) or a b-D-fructose (D-Fruc) units was designed and synthesized for antiproliferative assays in breast (MCF-7) and colon (MDST8) cancer cell lines. Twelve of them were hydroxyamides and were successfully synthesized from b-D-glucuronic acid (D-GluA). Six of these hydroxyamides which were acetylated hydroxy-b-Dglucopyranuronamide 2a-2f (1st Family) and the other six were their respective isomers, that is, hydroxy-b-D-fructuronamide 3a-3f (2nd Family), obtained by acid-base catalyzed isomerization. These compounds have the general structure, D-GlucAC@ONHACHRA(CH 2 ) n AOH and D-FrucAC@ONHACHRA (CH 2 ) n AOH, where R = an aromatic, alkyl or a hydrogen substituent, with n = 0 or 1. Eight of these contained a chiral aminoalcohol group. Three compounds were amides containing a D-glucopyranose unit (3rd Family). SAR studies were conducted with these compounds. Antiproliferative studies showed that compound 4a, the bromo-amide containing the b-D-glucopyranose ring, potently inhibits the proliferation of the MDST8 cells. Five compounds (2e, 2f, 3d, 3e, and 3f) were shown to potently selectively inhibit the proliferation of the MCF-7 cells. Compound 4b was the only one showing inhibition in both cell lines. In general, the more active compounds were the amides and hydroxyamides containing the b-D-fructose moiety, and containing an alkyl group or hydrogen. Half-inhibitory concentrations (IC 50 ) of between 0.01 and 10 lM, were observed.