UK-1 is a bis(benzoxazole) natural product displaying activity against a wide range of human cancer cell lines. A simplified analog of UK-1, 4-carbomethoxy-2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole, was previously found to be almost as active as UK-1 against cancer cell lines, and similar to the natural product, formed complexes with variety of metal ions such as Mg 2+ and Zn 2+ . A series 4-substituted-2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole analogs of this "minimal pharmacophore" of UK-1 were prepared. The anti-cancer activity of these analogs was examined in breast and lung cancer cell lines. Spectrophotometric titrations in methanol were carried out in order to assess the ability of UK-1 and these analogs to coordinate with Mg 2+ and Cu 2+ ions. Although none of the new analogs were more cytotoxic than 4-carbomethoxy-2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole, some analogs were identified that display similar cytotoxicity to this simplified UK-1 analog with improved water solubility. UK-1 and all of these new analogs bind Cu 2+ ions better than Mg 2+ ions, and the nature of the 4-substituent is important for the Mg 2+ ion binding ability of these 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzoxazoles. Previous studies of a limited number of UK-1 analogs demonstrated a correlation between Mg 2+ ion binding ability and cytotoxicity; however, within this series of 4-substituted-2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazoles the variations in cytotoxicity do not correlate with either Mg 2+ or Cu 2+ ion binding ability. These results, together with recent ESI-MS studies of Cu 2+ -mediated DNA binding by UK-1 and analogs, indicate that UK-1 and analogs may exert their cytotoxic effects by interaction with Cu 2+ or other transition metal ions, rather than Mg 2+ , and that metal ion-mediated DNA binding, rather than metal ion binding affinity, is important for the cytotoxic effect of these compounds. The potential role of Cu 2+ ions in the cytotoxic action of UK-1 is further supported by observation that UK-1 in the presence of Cu 2+ displays enhanced cytotoxicity to MCF-7 and A549 cells when compared to UK-1 alone.