Chalcone

Template:Chembox Chalcone is the organic compound C₆H₅C(O)CH=CHC₆H₅. It is an α,β-unsaturated ketone. A variety of important biological compounds are known collectively as chalcones or chalconoids.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> They are widely known bioactive substances, fluorescent materials, and chemical intermediates.

Chemical properties

Chalcones have two absorption maxima at 280 nm and 340 nm.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Biosynthesis

Chalcones and chalconoids are synthesized in plants as secondary metabolites. The enzyme chalcone synthase, a type III polyketide synthase, is responsible for the biosynthesis of these compounds. The enzyme is found in all "higher" (vascular) and several "lower" (non-vascular) plants.<ref name=zhuang_2017 />

Laboratory synthesis

Chalcone is usually prepared by an aldol condensation between benzaldehyde and acetophenone.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

preparation of chalcone

This reaction, which can be carried out without any solvent, is so reliable that it is often given as an example of green chemistry in undergraduate education.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Potential pharmacology

Chalcones and their derivatives demonstrate a wide range of biological activities including anti-inflammation.<ref name=pmid28914193>Template:Cite journal</ref> Some 2′-amino chalcones have been studied as potential antitumor agents.<ref name="XiaYang2000">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="SantosPinhanelli2017">Template:Cite journal</ref> Chalcones are of interest in medicinal chemistry and have been described as a privileged scaffold.<ref name="zhuang_2017">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Uses

Medicinal uses

In medicinal chemistry, chalcones have been used as:

• antioxidants
• Anticancer agents
• antidiabetic drugs
• antiviral drugs
• antimalarial drugs and more.

Industrial uses

In chemical industries, they are employed as:

• liquid crystals
• fluorescent chemical scaffolds
• metal sensors
• corrosion inhibitors
• plant hormones.<ref name=Nayak>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Uses in organic chemistry

Chalcones have been used as intermediates in heterocyclic synthesis, especially in the synthesis of pyrazoles and aurones.<ref name=Nayak/>

See also

• Juliá–Colonna epoxidation

External links

• Chalcone on reference.md Template:Webarchive