Synthesis of new series of 3-hydroxy/acetoxy-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-ones and their biological importance

Abstract

3-Hydroxy-2-aryl/heteroaryl-4H-chromones 4(a–n) were synthesized from appropriate chalcones 3(a–n) and acetylated to afford the corresponding acetoxy derivatives 5(a–n). All compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococus aureus, Bacillus subtillis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as fungi e.g., Candida albicans and Aspergius niger. Inhibition caused by hydroxy flavones was relatively low, whereas that of their acetoxy ester analogues was substantially high. Structure of 6-chloro-2-(furan-2-yl)-4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl acetate (5j) was also supported by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction.