Abstract: This invention relates to methods for screening compounds for antitubulin activity, evaluation of cells for sensitivity to antitubulin drugs, resistance monitoring and quantifying tubulin using certain amides that inhibit the growth of eukaryotic cells as probes in binding assays, said amides having the structural formula wherein A is cycloalkyl, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkylthio, haloalkylthio, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, or phenyl, pyridyl, furyl, thienyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrrolyl, isothiazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrimidinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, naphthyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, benzothienyl, indolyl, benzofuranyl or benzyl, all optionally substituted in an acceptable manner with up to 4 substituents; R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl or haloalkynyl, provided that both R1 and R2 are not a hydrogen atom; and X, Y and Z are each independently a hydrogen atom, halo, cyano,

Abstract: A two step process is described for making 2-alkyl-3-hydroxybenzoic acids or derivatives of benzoic acids by first reacting an allenyl ester or equivalent with furan followed by the ring-opening reaction of the derived bicyclo intermediate with base. The benzoic acids thus prepared are useful intermediates for the preparation of agricultural and pharmaceutical materials.