Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a class of enzymes that catalyze the removal of acetyl functional groups from lysine residues of both histones and nonhistone proteins. The histones are highly packed, allowing the DNA into structural units in which DNA winds tightly, and play a crucial role in gene regulation. In a normal cell, high affinity-binding between the histones and the DNA backbone prevent transcription. However, histone acetyl transferases (HATs) are enzymes that acetylate conserved lysine amino acids, which neutralizes charged histone and decreases the ability of the histones to bind tightly to DNA. This invention involves a small molecule that targets multiple components in aberrant activity of HDACs and HATs. Histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACIs) can result in either upregulation or repression of genes, which can induce apoptosis in both solid and hematological malignancies. In addition, protein lysine methyltransferase G9a catalyzes methylation of lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9), which is overexpressed in many cancers. Knockdown of G9a in lung, prostate, and leukemia cancer cells resulted in the inhibition of cell growth. Compounds in this invention are aimed to provide new anticancer agents that inhibit both HDAC and methyltransferase G9a.