We have identified alkylresorcinols (ARs) as the major active components in wheat bran against human colon cancer cell growth (HCT-116 and HT-29) using a bioassay-guided approach. To further study the structure–activity relationships, 15 ARs and their intermediates (1–15) were synthesized expediently by the modified Wittig reaction in aqueous media, and six 5-alkylpyrogallols and their analogues (16–21) were prepared by ...