New compounds derived from inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been synthesized and their antiproliferative activities towards non small lung cancer cell line H661 evaluated. Their design is based on hybrids between indanones to limit conformational mobility and other known HDAC inhibitors (SAHA, MS-275). The synthesis of these new derivatives was achieved by alkylation of appropriate indanones to introduce the side chain bearing a terminal ester group, the latter being a precursor of hydroxamic acid and aminobenzamide derivatives. These new analogues were found to be moderately active to inhibit H661 cell proliferation.