4-hydroxy-2-pyridone derivatives 2 were prepared by reaction of 3-amino-3-dialkylaminopropenoates with bis(2,4, 6-trichlorophenyl)malonate. These compounds were further reacted with a set of aldehydes to give bis(pyridyl)methanes 3 and 4. The newly synthesized compounds 2, 3 and 4 were evaluated in vitro as antitumour agents against 60 human tumour cell lines. Some derivatives exhibit tumour growth inhibition activity. In particular, derivative 4g, the most active of the series, possesses significant activity on all cell lines at concentrations ranging from 1 x 10(-6) to 1 x 10(-5) M.