A novel and convenient route for the synthesis of a series of thalidomide derivatives is described. Compound 2 was cyclized with different amines under alkaline condition to obtain 4-nitro substituted phthalimidines 3a-d. Hydroxylactams 4a-d were produced via bromination and hydroxylation. Different acyl chlorides were reacted with hydroxylactams to provide the desired esters 5a-d. All compounds were evaluated by MTT assay for their inhibitory activities against HCT-116, MG-63, MCF-7, HUVEC and HMVEC cell lines in vitro. Most of them showed no obvious cytotoxic effect on normal human cells, compounds 4a-d, $5a_2$, $5a_4$, $5a_5$, $5b_2$, $5c_2$ and $5d_2$ exhibited potent antitumor activities, among which compounds $5a_2$ and $5b_2$ were more effective than 5-FU.