A novel and the shortest route, thus far, for preparing cytosporone B (Csn-B) is reported. Csn-B and two analogs were used to probe the importance of hydroxyl groups at the 3- and 5-positions of the Csn-B benzene ring in inhibiting the viability of human H460 lung cancer and LNCaP prostate cancer cells, inducing H460 cell apoptosis, and interacting with the NR4A1 (TR3) ligand-binding domain (LBD). These studies indicate that Csn-B and 5-Me-Csn-B, having a phenolic hydroxyl at the 3-position of their aromatic rings, had similar activities in inhibiting cancer cell viability and in inducing apoptosis, whereas 3,5-(Me)2-Csn-B was unable to do so. These results are in agreement with ligand-binding experiments showing that the interaction with the NR4A1 LBD required the presence of the 3-hydroxyl group.