Direct Synthesis and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Structurally Complex Chalcones

A variety of chalcone derivatives were synthesized via aldol condensation of diverse aldehydes with acyclic and cyclic ketones, under mild reaction conditions. Reaction yields of pure products fluctuated from 48 % to 81 %. An unusually wide range of substrates including quinolines, thiophenes, pyridines, and fluorinated compounds were synthesized for this study. Full characterization data, along with in vitro antimicrobial activity for all adducts, are herein reported. Whole cell growth inhibition assays against staphylococcus aureus, escherichia coli, klebsiella pneumonia, acinetobacter baumannii, pseudomonas aeruginosa, candida albicans and cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii were performed employing all synthesized compounds (3a–m). The synthesis of several chalcones derivatives and their antimicrobial activity are reported in this communication. A straightforward aldol condensation between readily available aldehydes with ketones was employed to prepare the predicted adducts, in moderate to good yields, under mild reaction conditions. All the compounds were screened against one gram‐positive and four gram‐negative bacteria, and two fungi. The chemical structure and the inhibition percentiles of the lead compounds are depicted herein.