Natural and synthetic 2′-hydroxy-chalcones and aurones: Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of the antioxidant and soybean lipoxygenase inhibitory activity

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.bmc.2009.10.002

A series of 2′-hydroxy-chalcones and their oxidative cyclization products, aurones, have been synthesized and tested for their antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory activity. The natural product aureusidin (31) was synthesized in high yield by a new approach. An extensive structure-relationship study was performed and revealed that several chalcones and aurones possess an appealing pharmacological profile combining high antioxidant and lipid peroxidation activity with potent soybean LOX inhibition.

Full text of DOI:10.1016/j.bmc.2009.10.002

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 17 (2009) 8073–8085
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/bmc
Natural and synthetic 20-hydroxy-chalcones and aurones: Synthesis,
characterization and evaluation of the antioxidant and soybean
lipoxygenase inhibitory activity
b
c
c
Anastasia Detsi a, , Maya Majdalani , Christos A. Kontogiorgis , Dimitra Hadjipavlou-Litina ,
*
Panagiotis Kefalas b
a National Technical University of Athens, School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Zografou Campus, 15773 Athens, Greece
b Department of Food Quality and Chemistry of Natural Products, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques
Méditerranéennes), 73100 Chania, Crete, Greece
c Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
a r t i c l e i n f o
a b s t r a c t
A series of 20-hydroxy-chalcones and their oxidative cyclization products, aurones, have been synthe-
sized and tested for their antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory activity. The natural product aureusi-
din (31) was synthesized in high yield by a new approach. An extensive structure-relationship study was
performed and revealed that several chalcones and aurones possess an appealing pharmacological profile
combining high antioxidant and lipid peroxidation activity with potent soybean LOX inhibition.
Ó 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Article history:
Received 24 August 2009
Revised 29 September 2009
Accepted 1 October 2009
Available online 6 October 2009
Keywords:
20-Hydroxy-chalcones
Aurones
Aureusidin
Antioxidant
Lipid peroxidation
Soybean lipoxygenase
1. Introduction
Aurones, (Z)-2-benzylidenebenzofuran-3-(2H)-ones (Fig. 1),
constitute a less studied subclass of flavonoids, which occur rarely
Chalcones (1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones) (Fig. 1) are flavonoid and
isoflavonoid precursors which are abundant in edible plants and
display a wide spectrum of biological activities including antioxi-
dant,1–5 antibacterial,6,7 antileishmanial,8–10 anticancer,11–13 antian-
giogenic,14 anti-infective and anti-inflammatory activities.15–19 The
growing interest in these compounds and their potential use in
medicinal applications are proved by the growing number of publica-
tions concerning the synthesis and biological evaluation of chalcone
analogues.
Representative examples of naturally occurring bioactive chal-
cones are xanthohumol, the principal prenylated flavonoid of the
hop plant, which is characterized as a ‘broad spectrum’ cancer
chemopreventing agent in vitro,20 cardamonin, a hydroxychalcone
isolated from a zingiberous plant species, which possesses anti-
mutagenic, vasorelaxant and anti-inflammatory properties,21,22
and flavokawains A, B and C, which are found mainly in the kava
plant and have been used in traditional medicine practices of the
Pacific Islands.23
in nature: to date approximately 100 aurones have been reported
from natural sources, mainly flowering plants, and a few ferns,
mosses and marine brown algae.24 Aurones are responsible for
the bright yellow color of some popular ornamental flowers such
as snapdragon, cosmos and dahlia and are biosynthesized from
chalcones by the key enzyme aureusidin synthase.25 Representa-
tive naturally occurring aurones are aureusidin,26 sulfuretin27
and maritimetin,28 possessing various hydroxylation patterns. A
few natural aurones bearing methoxy substituents on either or
both rings have been reported.24,29,30
O
O
b
4
2'
2
3
9
1
3'
4'
5
6
10
6'
3
1'
6'
a
2
A
7
A
B
1'
6
O
8
2'
3'
4
5'
5
B
5'
4'
chalcones
aurones
* Corresponding author.
Figure 1. General structure and numbering scheme of the chalcone and aurone
E-mail address: adetsi@chemeng.ntua.gr (A. Detsi).
molecular scaffolds.
0968-0896/$ - see front matter Ó 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.bmc.2009.10.002

8074
A. Detsi et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 17 (2009) 8073–8085
The spectrum of biological activity of this class of compounds has
substituted 20-hydroxy-acetophenones and benzaldehydes in basic
conditions (20% aqueous KOH), as depicted in Scheme 1.
not been extensively studied. However, the existing data on the bio-
activity of natural and synthetic aurones is very promising, thus
these heterocyclic compounds can be considered as an attractive
scaffold for drug design and development. So far, aurones have been
reported to possess insect antifeedant activity,31 anticancer,32,33
antileishmanial30,34 and antibacterial properties,35 inhibitory activ-
ity against a variety of enzymes and proteins36–42 and have been
developed as potential amyloid imaging agents.43 Surprisingly, only
few studies on the antioxidant activity of aurones exist, however
these prove their potential as antioxidant agents.44,45
The formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) is characteristic
of aerobic organisms, as an unavoidable consequence of cell
metabolism. Normally, defense against these highly reactive spe-
cies can be accomplished by the organism using enzymes, like
superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and naturally
In order to contribute to robust structure–activity relationship
studies, we decided to prepare a series of chalcones and aurones
possessing unsubstituted or methoxy-substituted ring A while
bearing methoxy, chloro or methyl substituents on various posi-
tions of ring B. Thus, we used as starting material the commercially
available 20-hydroxy-acetophenone (6) and we prepared 20-hydro-
xy-40,60-dimethoxy-acetophenone (2), by methylation of 20,40,60-
trihydroxyacetophenone (phloroacetophenone) (1) using dimethyl
sulfate as the alkylating agent (see Section 5). The benzaldehydes
used in this study were all commercially available, with the excep-
tion of 3,4-dimethoxymethylbenzaldehyde (5) which was synthe-
sized from 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (4) using MOM-Cl and
K2CO3 in acetone (see Section 5).
The synthesis of the polyhydroxylated naturally occurring chal-
cone 19 (Scheme 2) was accomplished via the chalcone 18, which
is fully protected with the methoxymethyl (MOM) protecting
group, as proposed by other researchers for the same or analogous
compounds.55–57 The MOM group is stable under the basic condi-
tions of the Claisen–Schmidt condensation and is easily removed
by acidic treatment. The required 20-hydroxy-40,60-dimethoxyme-
thylacetophenone (3) was synthesized from phloroacetophenone
(1) as described in Section 5. Removal of the MOM protecting
group was achieved by refluxing 18 in 10% aqueous HCl in metha-
nol for 15 min, carefully monitoring the reaction by TLC. After
aqueous work-up and purification by silica gel flash column chro-
matography, we obtained 19 in 53% yield.
occurring antioxidants such as
a-tocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbic
acid (vitamin C), b-carotene and polyphenolic flavonoids. However,
in many pathophysiological conditions the excessive production of
ROS overwhelms the natural antioxidant defense mechanisms.
This imbalance is termed oxidative stress (OS).
Persistently high levels of ROS can modify essentially biological
molecules, such as lipids, proteins and DNA. It is consistent that
rates of ROS production are increased in most diseases.46 Oxidative
stress has been associated with several human diseases such as
cancer, neurodegenerative syndromes and inflammation. As a re-
sult, natural and synthetic small molecules possessing antioxidant
activity are becoming increasingly important in disease prevention
and therapy.
Lipoxygenases (LOX) are iron-containing enzymes widely dis-
tributed in plants and animals. They catalyze the oxidation of poly-
unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid (in plants) and
arachidonic acid (in mammals) at specific positions to hydroperox-
ides. Lipoxygenase inhibitors are of interest due to the implication
of the enzyme to various pathophysiological conditions as well as
to a number of food-related processes.
In humans lipoxygenase plays a key role in the biosynthesis of
leukotrienes, the proinflammatory mediators mainly released from
myeloid cells. Thus, inhibitors of lipoxygenases have attracted
attention initially as potential agents for the treatment of inflam-
matory and allergic diseases, but their therapeutic potential has
now been expanded to certain types of cancer and cardiovascular
diseases.47–50 The majority of LOX inhibitors are antioxidants or
free radical scavengers, since lipoxygenation occurs via a carbon-
centered radical, and these compounds can inhibit the formation
of the radical or trap it once formed.51,52
Moreover, lipoxygenases have applications in food chemistry
and technology: they play a positive role in bread making and ar-
oma production; however, their activity may have an impact on
the final color or off-flavor formation in various food products.53,54
As part of our research program involving the design and synthe-
sis of bioactive small molecules, we decided to study the molecular
scaffold of 20-hydroxy-chalcones and their oxidative cyclization
products, aurones, and examine their potential as antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory agents. Thus, we present here the synthesis and
structural characterization of a series of natural and non-natural
20-hydroxy-chalcones and aurones as well as their in vitro antioxi-
dant and soybean lipoxygenase inhibitory activity.
The existing methodologies for the synthesis of the aurone scaf-
fold include the oxidative cyclization of 20-hydroxychalcones,58,59
the base-catalyzed cyclization of
a-bromo-6-alkoxydihydrochal-
cones (Wheeler synthesis),60 bromination and cyclization of 20-
acetoxychalcones,61 condensation of benzofuran-3(2H)-ones with
benzaldehydes62 and, recently, the gold-catalyzed cyclization of
2-(1-hydroxyprop-2-ynyl)phenols.63 Having prepared the series
of chalcones 7–18, we decided to proceed to the synthesis of the
desired aurones via the oxidative cyclization methodology using
mercury(II) acetate in pyridine (Scheme 3). This combination of re-
agent/solvent was proposed by Subbaraju and co-workers45 as an
alternative to mercury(II) acetate in acetic acid in an attempt to
minimize the formation of the flavone cyclization product. We
were gratified to find that this was indeed the case with all the
chalcones we subjected to this reaction: refluxing equimolar
amounts of the chalcone and mercury(II) acetate in pyridine, the
major (or exclusive) product was the desired aurone which was
subsequently purified either by recrystallization or by flash column
chromatography. In all cases the thermodynamically more stable
Z-geometric isomer was obtained and the yields were moderate
to satisfactory (44–70%).
To our knowledge, the synthesis of aurones 21, 23–25, 27 and
28 has not been previously accomplished using this oxidative
cyclization procedure.
In order to efficiently synthesize aureusidin (4,6,30,40-tetrahydr-
oxy-aurone) (31) (Scheme 4), one of the most common natural
aurones, the corresponding 4,6,30,40-tetramethoxymethyl-aurone
(30) was prepared. Thus, oxidative cyclization of chalcone 18 re-
sulted in the formation of the new aurone 30 which was obtained
as yellow crystals in 67% yield, after recrystallization from metha-
nol/dichloromethane. Removal of the MOM protecting groups was
effected by refluxing 30 in a solution of 10% aqueous HCl and
methanol for 15 min. Extraction with ethyl acetate followed by
evaporation of the solvents and purification by flash column chro-
matography, afforded aureusidin (31) as an orange-red solid in 88%
yield.
2. Results and discussion
2.1. Synthesis and characterization of chalcones and aurones
20-Hydroxy-chalcones 7–18 have been synthesized via the Cla-
isen–Schmidt condensation reaction between appropriately
Only two other synthetic approaches to aureusidin have been re-
ported until now: one involving condensation of 4,6-dihydroxy-

A. Detsi et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 17 (2009) 8073–8085
8075
OH
O
CHO
OH
O
R3
R3
R4
R4
R5
(i)
+
R1
R2
R1
R2
R5
R1
R5
R2
R3
R4
H
H
H
H
OCH3
7
8
H
H
H
H
CH3
9
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
Cl
10
H
OCH3
H
H
11
12
OCH3
H
H
OCH3
OCH3
13
14
15
OCH3
OCH3
OCH3
OCH3
OCH3
OCH3
H
H
H
OCH3
OCH3
OCH3
Cl
H
H
16
17
18
OCH3
OCH3
OMOM
OCH3
OCH3
H
H
H
CH3
H
OCH3
H
OMOM
OMOM OMOM
Scheme 1. Reagents and conditions: (i) 20% aqueous KOH, EtOH, rt, 24–36 h.
OH
O
OH
O
OCH2OCH3
OCH2OCH3
OH
OH
(i)
CH3OCH2O
HO
OH
OCH2OCH3
18
19
Scheme 2. Reagents and conditions: (i) 10% aqueous HCl, EtOH, reflux, 15 min.
benzofuranone with 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde in acetic acid/
HCl,2,26 giving aureusidin in low yield (7%)2 and the one by D. Bolek
and M. Gütschow,64 who synthesized aureusidin in 36% yield by
demethylation of the corresponding 4,6,30,40-tetramethoxy-aurone
using BBr3.
of the methoxy group. The 1H NMR spectra of the chalcones 7–
12 are also characterized by a downfield signal at d 12.75–12.93
which is attributed to the hydrogen-bonded proton of the 20-hy-
droxyl group.
The presence of the methoxy or methoxymethyl groups at posi-
tions 40 and 60 of ring A (compounds 13–18) does not strongly af-
fect the chemical shifts of the vinylic protons, which appear at d
The synthesis proposed in this work via the 4,6,30,40-tetrameth-
oxymethyl-aurone (30) is advantageous as it involves a mild and
quick deprotection step and affords aureusidin (31) in high yield.
The 1H NMR spectra of the synthesized chalcones confirmed the
E-geometry of the double bond, showing a pair of AB doublets with
characteristic J values of 15.3–15.8 Hz. The chemical shifts of the
most characteristic protons are strongly affected by the substitu-
tion pattern of rings A and B. Therefore, for compounds 7–10 and
12, bearing no substituents on ring A, the signals of the vinylic pro-
7.71–7.77 (H ) and at d 7.79–7.87 (Hb), but causes a significant
a
downfield shift of the hydroxyl proton signal (d 13.91–14.93), indi-
cating a stronger hydrogen bond as expected by the electron-
donating nature of these substituents.65 The ‘ortho’ effect of the
methoxy group present on the 2-position of chalcone 17 results
to a downfield shift of the vinylic protons signals (d 7.96 for H
a
and 8.15 for Hb).
tons appear at d 7.53–7.64 (H ) and at d 7.89–7.92 (Hb). A signifi-
In the case of chalcones 13 and 14, the 1H NMR spectra obtained
a
cant downfield shift of these signals is observed in the 1H NMR
at a 300 MHz instrument failed to show the expected splitting pat-
spectrum of compound 11, which bears a methoxy group on the
tern of the AB doublet system: the signals of H and Hb appeared as
a
2-position of ring B. The signal of
d = 0.15–0.26 ppm) and the signal of Hb at 8.23 (
0.47 ppm). This difference can be attributed to the ‘ortho’ effect
H
appears at
d
7.79
a doublet at 7.78 ppm (J = 2.1 Hz) in the spectrum of 13 and as a
singlet at 7.79 ppm in the spectrum of 14. Obtaining the spectra
at a 600 MHz instrument showed the expected splitting pattern
a
(D
Dd = 0.31–

8076
A. Detsi et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 17 (2009) 8073–8085
R2
O
OH
O
R3
R4
R5
(i)
R3
R5
O
R1
R1
R2
R4
R1
R5
R2
R3
R4
20
H
H
H
H
OCH3
CH3
21
22
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
Cl
H
OCH3
H
H
23
24
25
26
H
OCH3
H
H
H
H
H
OCH3
H
OCH3
OCH3
Cl
OCH3
OCH3
OCH3
OCH3
H
27
28
29
30
OCH3
OCH3
OMOM
OCH3
OCH3
OMOM
H
H
H
CH3
H
OCH3
H
OMOM OMOM
Scheme 3. Reagents and conditions: (i) Hg(OAc)2, pyridine, 110 °C.
OH
OMOM
O
O
(i)
O
O
HO
MOMO
OH
OH
OMOM
OMOM
Scheme 4. Reagents and conditions: (i) 10% aqueous HCl, MeOH, reflux, 15 min.
31
30
with the appropriate J coupling values (see Section 5), in accor-
dance to the spectra obtained for all the synthesized chalcones in
this work.
However, Sim et al. published recently the X-ray structural analysis
of aurone 29 and unambiguously proved the Z-configuration of the
exocyclic double bond.41 In general our spectral data were in
agreement with the reported data for the same or analogous
compounds.
The NMR spectroscopic data of the synthesized aurones prove
that this oxidative cyclization procedure yields exclusively the Z-
geometrical isomer, as has already been reported. As expected,
the substitution pattern of both rings of the aurones affects the
chemical shifts of the characteristic vinylic proton. More specifi-
cally, this proton appears as a singlet at d 6.84–6.89 for the non-
substituted on ring A aurones 20–23 and 25 whereas it shifts
upfield, at d 6.57–6.71, for aurones 26–28 and 30, bearing two
electron-donating alkoxy groups on ring A. The electron releasing
nature and the position of the substituents on ring B cause further
differentiation in the chemical shifts of the vinylic proton: the
presence of a chloro-substituent on position 40 results to an upfield
shift of the signal (d 6.84 for 22 and d 6.57 for 27) whereas the pres-
ence of a methoxy group on position 20 causes a downfield shift of
the signal at d 7.49 for 24 and 7.32 for 29. This effect of the 20-sub-
stituent, the same as in the case of the corresponding chalcones,
has been reported previously for 20-substituted aurones and was
2.2. Antioxidant activity
Taking the multifactorial character of oxidative stress into ac-
count, we decided to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of
the synthesized molecules using five different antioxidant assays.
Therefore, the radical scavenging ability of the compounds was
tested against the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) stable
Åꢀ
free radical and the superoxide anion radical O2 (metal-free sys-
tems) as well as against the hydroxyl radical (HOÅ) generated by
the Fe3+/ascorbic acid system. The ability of the compounds to
scavenge another important ROS, hydrogen peroxide, was tested
using the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence method. Finally, the
ability of the synthesized chalcones and aurones to inhibit lipid
peroxidation induced by the thermal free radical producer 2,20-
azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) was evaluated.
a
reason to doubt the Z-configuration of these compounds.

A. Detsi et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 17 (2009) 8073–8085
8077
Table 2
Interaction
2.2.1. Interaction with the DPPH stable free radical
% with DPPH, superoxide radical scavenging ability (PMS %) and
The scavenging effect of the synthesized compounds on the
DPPH radical was evaluated according to the methods of Hadjipav-
lou et al.66 and the results are presented in Tables 1 and 2.
The interaction of the synthesized compounds with the stable
free radical DPPH indicates their radical scavenging ability in an
iron-free system. The interaction of the tested chalcones and auro-
nes with DPPH was found to be time and concentration dependent.
Among the tested chalcones, the best DPPH radical scavenging
activity was presented by the naturally occurring 20,3,4,40,60-penta-
hydroxy-chalcone (19), which exhibits higher activity than the
reference compound nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). 20-Hydro-
xy-3,4,40,60-tetra(methoxymethyl)-chalcone, (18), and 20-hydroxy-
2-methoxy-chalcone (11), bearing a methoxy group on position 2
of the B ring and no substituents on the A ring display satisfactory
activity, but much lower than 19. For chalcones 7–12, not bearing
methoxy groups on ring A, the DPPH scavenging ability seems to
depend only on the position of the methoxy group on ring B (com-
pare 7, 10 and 11), whereas the electronic character of the B ring
substituents does not affect activity since compounds 7, 8 and 9
display the same activity. The same is true for chalcones 13–17,
which bear methoxy groups on positions 40 and 60 of the A ring:
the most active chalcone of this series is 17, bearing the OCH3
group on position 2 of the B ring.
competition % with DMSO for the hydroxyl radical (HOÅ %) of aurones 20–29 and 31
Compound
DPPH (%)
PMS % HOÅ (%)
C log P
50
lM
100
l
M
10
lM
100 lM
20 min 60 min 20 min 60 min
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
13.9
5.6
11.1
11.1
4.2
n.t.
2.8
0.0
0.0
29.4
10.3
0.0
0.0
n.t.
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
n.t.
83
5.1
23.8
49.2
76.2
83.8
43.1
n.t.
11.5
20.8
29.2
30.8
97.7
83
81.6
68.4
89.5
50.0
73.7
97.4
63.2
84.2
97.4
55.3
n.t.
76.4
84.5
0.0
3.97
4.55
4.76
3.97
3.97
3.71
3.95
4.75
4.53
3.95
2.42
23.9
49.3
87.9
25.0
n.t.
0.0
6.3
8.5
1.8
57.8
100.0
76.7
100.0
91.5
100.0
77.9
n.t.
28
29
31
0.0
4.2
n.t.a
84
84.9
81
NDGAb
Caffeic
acid
Trolox
5.5
73.4
Lipophilicity theoretically calculated as C log P values.
a
n.t. = not tested.
NDGA—nordihydroguaiaretic acid.
b
of molecular oxygen. The evaluation of superoxide anion radical
scavenging activity can be determined using assays involving
non-enzymatic or enzymatic production of superoxide anions. In
this case, the non-enzymatic assay was used. The superoxide pro-
ducing system was set up by mixing phenazine methosulfate
(PMS), NADH and air–oxygen. The production of superoxide radical
was estimated by the nitroblue tetrazolium method.51
The tested aurones are moderate to good DPPH radical scaveng-
ers, with the exceptions of aureusidin (31) and aurone 23, substi-
tuted with
a
methoxy group on position 30, which exhibit
scavenging ability comparable to the reference compound NDGA.
It is also interesting that compound 23 presents high scavenging
activity as good as compound 31, although they present significantly
different lipophilicity, 3.97 and 2.42, respectively. Aurone 22, bear-
ing a Cl group on position 40 showed very good activity (76.2%). In
the case of these compounds the substitution pattern of ring A is cru-
cial for activity: with the exception of 20, aurones which do not bear
methoxy groups on ring A are more active. As in the case of chal-
cones, the electron-withdrawing or -donating character of the sub-
stituents is not important for this type of activity.
The results of this assay are presented in Tables 1 and 2. The
tested chalcones exhibited high activity at 10 lM. Compounds
12, 15 and 16 presented the highest activity (100%), followed by
compounds 10 and 11. For the chalcones that do not have any sub-
stituents on the A ring (compounds 7–12) the position of the sub-
stituents seems to be important for activity: substituents on
position 4 do not favor activity regardless if they are electron-
donating (–OCH3 and –CH3 for compounds 7 and 8, respectively)
or electron-withdrawing (–Cl for compound 9). On the other hand,
the presence of –OCH3 group on positions 2, 3 or the presence of
two methoxy groups on positions 3 and 4 increases the radical
scavenging activity of the chalcone. As far as substitution with
two methoxy groups on positions 40 and 60 of the A ring is con-
cerned, the results show that activity is enhanced when a –CH3
or a –Cl group is present on position 4 of the B ring (compounds
16 and 15, respectively).
2.2.2. Superoxide anion radical scavenging ability
ꢀÅ
Superoxide anion radicals O2 and H2O2 are reactive oxygen
species produced in vivo, through a one-electron reduction process
Table 1
Interaction
% with DPPH, superoxide radical scavenging ability (PMS %) and
competition % with DMSO for the hydroxyl radical (HOÅ %) of chalcones 7–19
Compound
DPPH (%)
PMS % HOÅ (%)
10 100 lM
C log P
50
lM
100
lM
l
M
Among the tested aurones, compounds 25 (bearing –OCH3
groups on positions 30 and 40) and 28 (with –OCH3 groups on posi-
tions 4 and 6 and a –CH3 on position 40) showed the highest super-
oxide anion scavenging activity (97.4%), followed by aurones 22, 27
and 20. It is interesting to note that there is a correlation between
the activity of chalcones and the corresponding aurones in this as-
say: a highly active chalcone gives a highly active aurone (e.g., 12 is
cyclized to 25, 15 to 27 and 16 to 28 and all these compounds are
highly active).
20 min 60 min 20 min 60 min
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
9.7
5.6
n.t.
84
0.0
1.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.9
0.0
n.t.
83
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
40.8
43.8
40.8
34.6
57.7
28.5
20.8
40.8
46.9
24.6
47.7
65.4
94.9
83
73.7
84.2
84.2
97.4
92.1
100
86.8
50.0
100
100
89.5
50.0
n.t.
100.0
100.0
100.0
57.0
100.0
84.1
3.88
4.46
4.67
3.88
3.88
3.62
3.66
3.92
4.72
4.50
3.92
2.89
1.57
11.8
6.3
12.9
6.3
15.1
9.6
15.1
42.6
100.0
81
42.2
78.7
100.0
100.0
0.0
100.0
n.t.
2.2.3. HOÅ radical scavenging ability
The competition of the synthesized chalcones and aurones with
DMSO for HOÅ, generated by the Fe3+/ascorbic acid system, ex-
pressed as percent inhibition of formaldehyde production, was
used for the evaluation of their hydroxyl radical scavenging activ-
ity.51 In this experiment, the majority of the tested chalcones and
a
19
NDGAb
Caffeic
acid
Trolox
5.5
73.4
aurones showed remarkable activity at 100 lM (higher than the
well known antioxidant trolox) (Tables 1 and 2). Compounds 7–9
exhibited 100% inhibition, indicating that the electron-donating
Lipophilicity theoretically calculated as C log P values.
a
n.t. = not tested.
b
NDGA—nordihydroguaiaretic acid.

8078
A. Detsi et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 17 (2009) 8073–8085
Table 3
Table 4
H2O2 scavenging ability (IC50 (mM) and % inhibition of LP induced by AAPH for
chalcones 7–19
H2O2 scavenging ability (IC50) and % inhibition of LP induced by AAPH for aurones 20–
29 and 31
Compound
H2O2 scavenging ability
IC50 (mM) SD
% Inhibition of LP induced
by AAPH
Compound
H2O2 scavenging ability
IC50 (mM) SD
% Inhibition of LP induced
by AAPH
60 s, 10
lM
60 s, 10 lM
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
0.500 0.030
1.035 0.089
0.713 0.020
0.940 0.060
0.599 0.035
0.228 0.020
0.088 0.003
0.456 0.025
0.657 0.016
0.665 0.008
0.503 0.034
n.t.a
61.6
49.6
74.4
75.8
43.1
64.6
73.6
80.9
42.7
100.0
68.4
77.1
0.0
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
31
0.291 0.030
2.009 0.040
4.14 0.210
1.992 0.031
0.466 0.030
0.044 0.006
1.089 0.010
n.t.a
64.6
43.1
46.4
62.3
71.1
53.3
42.6
82.9
72.0
87.1
77.8
19.0 (10
n.t.
2.401 0.082
n.t.
lM)
19
0.076 0.006
0.162 0.019
0.0169 0.0003
Quercetin
b-Carotene
Trolox
0.162 0.019
0.0169 0.0003
Quercetin
b-Carotene
Trolox
63
63.0
a
n.t. = not tested.
a
n.t. = not tested.
tive with the exception of 20-hydroxy-3,4-dimethoxychalcone
(12), which is the third more active compound of this series.
Generally, the tested aurones did not show remarkable H2O2
scavenging ability with the exception of 30,40-dimethoxyaurone
(25), which is one of the most active compounds tested in this
study. Again, it is the 30,40-dimethoxy substitution pattern of the
B ring that is crucial for activity: removal of the methoxy group
from position 30 results in a compound with lower but still impor-
tant activity (compound 20). The position of the remaining meth-
oxy group is significant: moving this group from position 40 to 20
lowers activity whereas the 30-substitution results in a much less
active compound. If the methoxy group is replaced by CH3 or Cl,
activity is even lower with compound 22 bearing the electron-
withdrawing Cl being the least active compound of this series. Con-
versely to the chalcones, the two aurones bearing methoxy groups
on ring A that were tested were not efficient H2O2 scavengers.
or -withdrawing character of the substituent on the B ring does not
affect activity. The position and number of methoxy groups on ring
B seems to be important: compounds 7 and 11 show 100% inhibi-
tion whereas chalcones 12 (with two OCH3 groups on positions 3
and 4) and 10 (bearing a OCH3 group on position 3 of the B ring)
are less active. 100% inhibition was observed also by chalcones
15 and 16. It is evident that the substitution pattern of the rings
is important for the HOÅ radical scavenging ability of the tested
chalcones: the presence of methoxy groups on ring A accompanied
by the presence of one or two methoxy groups on ring B do not fa-
vor activity (compare 7 with 14, 11 with 17 and 12 with 13). On the
other hand, the highly oxygenated chalcone 18 is highly active.
The majority of tested aurones showed important radical scav-
enging ability as well, ranging from 76.4% to 100.0% (Table 1). For
aurones 20–25, bearing no substituents on ring A, the electron-
donating or -withdrawing character and the position of the substit-
uents on ring B seem to be important for activity: aurone 24, bear-
2.2.5. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation
ing
a
methoxy group on 20-position is highly active (100%
AAPH induced linoleic acid oxidation has been developed as a
quick and reliable method for measuring the antioxidant activity
of raw materials, worts and beers. It is based on the inhibition of
lipid oxidation, provides a measure of how efficiently antioxidants
protect against lipid oxidation in vitro. Oxidation of exogenous lin-
oleic acid by a thermal free radical producer (AAPH) is followed by
UV spectrophotometry in a highly diluted sample.68
The majority of the studied compounds effectively inhibit AAPH
induced lipid peroxidation, showing higher activity than the refer-
ence compound trolox. Chalcone 16 exhibited the highest activity
inhibition) whereas the other isomers (20 and 23) were less active.
Moreover, the presence of the electron-withdrawing chlorine atom
on the 40-position results to compound 22 which is devoid of activ-
ity. Aurones bearing two methoxy groups on positions 4- and 6-
are more active than the corresponding compounds without the
methoxy groups: it is interesting to note that even the inactive aur-
one 22 is converted to a highly active aurone 27 when the two
methoxy groups are incorporated in the structure.
2.2.4. H2O2 scavenging ability
(100% at 10 lM). In general, chalcone derivatives bearing alkoxy
The ability of the synthesized compounds to scavenge hydrogen
peroxide was evaluated using the peroxyoxalate chemilumines-
cence method.67 The results are presented in Tables 3 and 4. Two
of the tested chalcones, the natural product 20,3,4,40,60-pentahydr-
oxychalcone, (19) and the analogue 20-hydroxy-3,4,40,60-tetra-
methoxychalcone, (13) and one aurone [3,4-dimethoxy-aurone,
(25)] were more potent H2O2 scavengers than the reference com-
pound quercetin. The results show that the 3,4,40,60-substitution
pattern of chalcones 13 and 19 is the most important factor affect-
ing this type of activity: chalcones bearing one less methoxy group
on ring B, regardless the position, show lower activity (compare
flavokawain A, 14 and 17 with 13). It seems that the ‘catecholic’
structure is the most influential factor for this type of activity.
Removal of the methoxy group of ring B and substitution with
CH3 or Cl results in further decrease of activity. The chalcones
which do not possess methoxy groups on ring A are even less ac-
substituents (–OCH3 or –OCH2OCH3) on positions 40 and 60 of the
A ring are more efficient inhibitors of lipid peroxidation than the
non-substituted analogues. For these chalcones (compounds 13,
14, 16–18), the presence of electron-donating groups on the B ring
seems to enhance activity (73–100%) whereas the presence of a Cl
group leads to compound 15 with moderate activity (42.7%). The
same trend concerning the substitution on the A ring (the fused
aromatic ring) is also evident in the aurone analogues: three out
of the four tested aurones with methoxy groups on the A ring
(compounds 27–29) exhibit the highest inhibitory activity from
all the aurone series (72–87%). Aureusidin 31 is also a good inhib-
itor of lipid peroxidation (77.8%) while it presents the lowest
C log P value among all the aurones. Apparently, for the lipid per-
oxidation assay, the presence and electron-donating character of
the substituents on the A ring plays the most important role in
the activity of this series of compounds.

A. Detsi et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 17 (2009) 8073–8085
8079
8 and 9, which have no substituents on the A ring, are very good
LOX inhibitors, showing IC50 values of 52.2 and 56 M, respec-
3. In vitro inhibition of soybean lipoxygenase (LOX)
l
tively. Compound 8 bears an electron-donating methyl group on
position 4 of the B ring, whereas compound 9 bears an electron-
withdrawing Cl group at the same position. It seems that the differ-
ent electronic character of these substituents does not affect the
LOX inhibitory activity in this case. The presence of methoxy
groups either on ring A or on ring B was generally accompanied
by low inhibitory activity, with the exception of chalcone 16 (with
two methoxy groups on positions 40 and 60 of ring A and a methyl
group on position 4 of ring B), which is a potent LOX inhibitor (IC50
Flavonoids, such as quercetin, isoquercitrin, apigenin and luteo-
lin are the most potent 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors among phenolic
natural products. Studies on the 5-LOX inhibitory activity of natu-
rally occurring flavonoids suggest that the presence of a catechol
structure or a lipophilic substituent in polyhydroxylated com-
pounds appears to be essential for 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activ-
ity.69–71
The synthesized chalcones and aurones were evaluated for inhi-
bition of soybean lipoxygenase by the UV-absorbance-based en-
zyme assay66 and the results are presented in Tables 5 and 6.
The majority of LOX inhibitors are antioxidants or free radical
scavengers,72 since lipoxygenation occurs via a carbon centred rad-
ical. Some studies suggest a relationship between LOX inhibition
and the ability of the inhibitors to reduce the Fe3+ at the active site
53
lV).
In an analogous work, Hasan et al.75 have reported that 20-
hydroxychalcones bearing a chloro-substituent on ring A are effi-
cient LOX inhibitors whereas the presence of a chloro or methyl
group on ring B dramatically decreases activity. Moreover, the
same group reports that chalcones 7, 10 and 12 do not present
any LOX inhibitory activity and these findings are in accordance
with our work with the exception of compound 12 which, in our
hands, exhibits 67.5% inhibition. The anti-inflammatory potential
of 20-hydroxy-chalcones has been recently reported by Tran et al.
who have shown that compounds 7–9 possess moderate inhibitory
activity against prostaglandin E2 production and that the presence
of alkoxy groups on ring B is required for activity.76
to the catalytically inactive Fe2+ 73,74
iron per molecule in the enzyme active site as high-spin Fe2+ in
.
LOXs contain a ‘non-heme’
the native state and the high-spin in the activated state Fe3+
.
Several LOX inhibitors are excellent ligands for Fe3+. It has been
demonstrated that their mechanism of action is presumably re-
lated to its coordination with a catalytically crucial Fe3+
.
Among the tested compounds, chalcones were generally found
to exhibit superior LOX inhibitory activity than aurones. Chalcones
As far as the aurone series is concerned, the majority of these
compounds did not show significant LOX inhibitory activity at
100 lV, with the exception of aurone 26, bearing two methoxy
Table 5
In vitro inhibition of soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) (IC50)/% at 100
19
l
M for chalcones 7–
groups on positions 4 and 6 of the fused aromatic ring and a methyl
group on position 40 of the other aromatic ring, which exhibited the
best LOX inhibitory activity among all the tested compounds (IC50
Compound
LOX
IC50
(% 100
(
l
M)
M)
50 lV) in this work. It is noteworthy that the two chalcones 8 and
l
16 as well as aurone 26, which share the common structural fea-
ture of a methyl substituent on ring B, are equipotent LOX inhibi-
tors, regardless of the substitution of ring A.
The presence of more than one free hydroxyl groups on the
chalcone or aurone skeleton proved to be detrimental for activity:
neither chalcone 19 nor aureusidin 31 showed any LOX inhibitory
activity.
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
(5.0%)
52.5
56
(36.4%)
100
67.5
(1.6%)
(2.3%)
82
15
16
17
18
19
53
4. Conclusions
(20.0%)
(14.1%)
(0.0%)
40
In this study, a series of chalcones and aurones have been syn-
thesized and characterized. A new efficient approach to the synthe-
sis of the natural product aureusidin has been developed. The
antioxidant activity of the synthesized compounds has been stud-
ied in vitro using five different assays. Moreover, in an attempt to
identify the potential of the compounds as anti-inflammatory
agents, their ability to inhibit in vitro soybean lipoxygenase was
evaluated.
NDGAa
Caffeic acid
600
a
NDGA—nordihydroguaiaretic acid.
Table 6
In vitro inhibition of soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) (IC50)/% at 100
l
M for aurones 20–
31
Our study indicates that high DPPH radical scavenging activity
is not always accompanied by high LOX inhibitory activity. Poly-
phenolic compounds such as chalcone 19 and aureusidin (31) are
very efficient DPPH radical scavengers however they do not inhibit
LOX. On the other hand, chalcones 8 and 9 and aurone 26 are po-
tent LOX inhibitors possessing low to moderate DPPH radical scav-
enging activity. This is in accordance with the finding of Curini et
al.77 who have studied the antioxidant and LOX inhibitory activity
of five natural prenyloxy-carboxylic acids and showed that the
most efficient LOX inhibitor (boropinic acid) is not the most active
DPPH radical scavenger.
Compound
LOX
IC50
(% 100
(l
M)
M)
l
20
21
22
23
24
26
27
28
70.0
(32.4%)
(26.4%)
(34.9%)
(39.9%)
50
(7.8%)
(0.0%)
100
29
However, a better correlation exists between LOX inhibitory
activity and superoxide anion radical or hydroxyl radical scaveng-
ing ability: 20-hydroxy-chalcones 8, 9 and 16 are highly active in
these assays with chalcone 16 presenting a very good H2O2 scav-
enging and lipid peroxidation inhibition profile.
30
31
(0.0%)
(0.0%)
40
NDGAa
Caffeic acid
600
a
NDGA—nordihydroguaiaretic acid.

8080
A. Detsi et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 17 (2009) 8073–8085
On the basis of the structure–activity relationship studies per-
3.52, 3.47 (each 3H, s, 3 ꢁ OCH3), 2.65 (3H, s, COCH3); 13C NMR
(CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 203.30, 166.83, 163.45, 160.35, 106.94,
97.16, 94.48, 94.01, 56.69, 56.43, 32.99.
formed in this work, it is evident that among the tested compounds
chalcone 16 and aurone 26, both bearing methoxy groups on posi-
tions 20 and 40 of the A ring, possess the most promising combined
antioxidant-LOX inhibitory profile. Apparently, the design of this
type of dual-acting molecules should be further explored based
on the structural features of these compounds.
5.1.3. 3,4-Bis(methoxymethyl)benzaldehyde, (5)2,57
Following the procedure described for the synthesis of com-
pound 3, aldehyde 5 was prepared from 3,4-dihydroxybenzalde-
hyde (4; 500 mg, 3.6 mmol). After evaporation of the solvent, the
oily residue was purified using flash column chromatography
((petroleum ether/ethyl acetate 7.5:2.5) to give 5 as a low melting
white solid. Yield 702 mg (83%); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm
9.85 (s, 1H, CHO), 7.67 (d, 1H, J = 1.8 Hz, H-2), 7.50 (dd, 1H, J = 8.4,
1.8 Hz, H-5), 7.27 (d, 1H, J = 8.4 Hz, H-6), 5.32, 5.29 (each 2H, s,
2 ꢁ OCH2O), 3.52, 3.51 (each 3H, s, 3 ꢁ OCH3); 13C NMR (CDCl3,
75 MHz) d ppm 190.76, 152.57, 147.42, 131.10, 126.28, 115.88,
115.33, 95.33, 94.92, 56.45, 56.33.
5. Experimental
5.1. Instruments and materials
1H NMR spectra (300 MHz) and 13C NMR spectra (75 MHz) were
recorded on a Varian Gemini 2000 300 MHz spectrometer. The 1H
NMR spectra (600 MHz) of compounds 13 and 14 were recorded on
a Varian 600 MHz spectrometer. Melting points were determined
on a Gallenkamp MFB-595 melting point apparatus and are uncor-
rected. For the in vitro tests a Lambda 20 (Perkin–Elmer) UV–vis
double beam spectrophotometer was used.
5.2. General procedure for the synthesis of chalcones 7–19
The LC/MS analysis was performed using an LC/DAD/MS system
comprising a Finnigan MAT Spectra System P4000 pump coupled
with a UV6000LP diode array detector and a Finnigan AQA mass
spectrometer. The separation was performed on a 125 ꢁ 2 mm
Superspher 100–4 RP-18 column (Macherey-Nagel, 4 lm particle
size) at a flow rate of 0.33 mL/min, the column being kept at
40 °C. The detection was monitored at 370, 400 and 278 nm. The
MS-ESI(+) spectroscopy at a probe temperature of 350 °C, probe
voltage of 4 kV and at 12 and 40 eV in the mass analyzer. The mass
range was set at 121–787 amu and the scan rate was at 0.8 scans/s.
The following gradient program was used: (A) AcOH (2.5%) and (B)
MeOH, 100% A for 5 min, 0% A in 15 min and kept at 0% A for an-
other 5 min. The data were processed using the Xcalibur 1.2
software.
All the chemicals used were of analytical grade and commer-
cially available from FLUKA, Sigma–Aldrich, ACROS Organics and
Merck. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nordihydroguai-
retic acid (NDGA) were purchased from the Aldrich Chemical Co.
Milwaukee, WI, (USA). Soybean lipoxygenase, linoleic acid sodium
salt and indomethacin were obtained from Sigma Chemical, Co. (St.
Louis, MO, USA).
OH
2'
O
R3
2
1
R4
R5
3'
4'
3
1'
6'
6
4
R1
R2
5'
5
To a stirred solution of the appropriate acetophenone (1 equiv)
and a substituted benzaldehyde (1 equiv) in ethanol was added
KOH (20% w/v aqueous solution) and the mixture was stirred at
room temperature for 24–72 h. The reaction mixture was cooled
to 0 °C (ice-water bath) and acidified with HCl (10% v/v aqueous
solution). In most cases a yellow precipitate was formed, which
was filtered and washed with 10% aqueous HCl solution. In the
cases where an orange oil was formed, the mixture was extracted
with CH2Cl2, the extracts were dried (Na2SO4) and the solvent was
evaporated to give the chalcone as a solid.
5.2.1. 20-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-chalcone (7)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from 2-hy-
droxy-acetophenone (6, 500 mg, 3.67 mmol) and p-methoxybenz-
aldehyde (500 mg, 3.67 mmol), dissolved in 9 mL ethanol and
KOH (20% aqueous solution, 3 mL). The yellow solid was recrystal-
lized from hexane/ethyl acetate. Yield: 624 mg (67%). Mp 84–86 °C
(Ref. 78 93–94 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm 12.93 (s, 1H,
5.1.1. 2-Hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxyacetophenone, (2)
A mixture of 20,40,60-trihydroxyacetophenone (1; 2.2 g, 10 mmol),
(CH3)2SO4 (1.91 mL, 20 mmol) and anhydrous K2CO3 (3.04 g,
22 mmol) in dry acetone (45 mL) was refluxed for 5 h. The reaction
mixture was then poured into ice-water (50 mL) and the resulting
white precipitate was filtered off and washed with cold water. Yield
1.33 g (62%). The compound was used without further purification,
as the 1H and 13C NMR spectral data indicated satisfactory purity.
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm 14.02 (1H, s, OH), 6.06 (1H, d,
J = 2.4 Hz, H-3), 5.92 (1H, d, J = 2.4 Hz, H-5), 3.85, 3.82 (each 3H, s,
2 ꢁ OCH3), 2.61 (3H, s, COCH3). 13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm
203.12, 167.59, 166.08, 162.90, 106.01, 93.48, 90.73, 55.52, 32.88.
OH), 7.91 (dd, 1H, J6 ,5 = 8,06 Hz, J6 ,4 = 1,46 Hz H-60), 7.906 (d, 1H,
JB,A = 15,38 Hz, HB), 7.63 (d, 2H, J2,3 = J6,5 = 8,79 Hz, H-2, H-6), 7.54
(d, 1H, JA,B = 15,38 Hz, HA), 7.51–7.46 (m, 1H, H-50), 7.02 (d, 1H,
0
0
0
0
J3 ,4 = 8.79 Hz, H-30), 6.95 (d, 2H, J3,2 = J5,6 = 8,79 Hz, H-3, H-5),
6.96–6.91 (m, 1H, H-40), 3.87 (s, 3H, –OCH3); 13C NMR (CDCl3,
75 MHz) d ppm 193.66, 163.55, 162.03, 145.34, 136.12, 130.53,
129.51, 127.35, 120.12, 118.73, 118.57, 117.61, 114.51, 55.43; MS
(ESI) m/z = 255 [M+H]+.
0
0
5.2.2. 20-Hydroxy-4-methyl-chalcone (8)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from 2-hydro-
xy-acetophenone (6, 500 mg, 3.67 mmol) and p-methylbenzalde-
hyde (441 mg, 3.67 mmol), dissolved in 9 mL ethanol and KOH
(20% aqueous solution, 3 mL). The yellow solid was recrystallized
from hexane/ethyl acetate. Yield: 610 mg (70%). Mp 116–117 °C
(Ref. 78 115–117 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm 12.87 (s,
5.1.2. 2-Hydroxy-4,6-bis(methoxymethyl)acetophenone, (3)2,57
To
a
mixture of 20,40,60-trihydroxyacetophenone (1; 1.0 g,
5.4 mmol) and anhydrous K2CO3 (5.2 g, 40 mmol) in dry acetone
(100 mL) was added dropwise chloromethyl methyl ether (1 mL,
13.4 mmol), The mixture was refluxed for 4 h, cooled to room tem-
perature, filtered, washed with acetone and the solvent was evap-
orated. The resulting yellowish oil was purified using flash column
chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate 9:1) to give 3 as a
low melting white solid. Yield 930 mg (63%); 1H NMR (CDCl3,
300 MHz) d ppm 13.70 (1H, s, OH), 6.26 (1H, d, J = 2.7 Hz, H-3),
6.24 (1H, d, J = 2.7 Hz, H-5), 5.25, 5.17 (each 2H, s, 2 ꢁ OCH2O),
1H OH), 7.93 (dd, 1H, J6 ,5 = 7.69 Hz, J6 ,4 = 1.47 Hz H-60), 7.92 (d,
1H, JB,A = 15.75 Hz, HB), 7.62 (d,1H, JA,B = 15.75 Hz, HA), 7.57 (d, 2H,
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
J2,3 = J6,5 = 7.69 Hz, H-2, H-6), 7.50 (ddd, 1H, J4 ,3 = J4 ,5 = 7.87 Hz,
J4 ,6 = 1.47 Hz H-40), 7.25 (d, 2H, J3,2 = J5,6 = 7,69 Hz H-3, H-5), 7.03
0
0
(dd, 2H, J3 ,4 = 7.87 Hz, J3 ,5 = 0.73 Hz H-30), 6.94 (ddd, 1H,
0
0
0
0
J5 ,4 = J5 ,6 = 7.87 Hz, J5 ,3 = 0,73 Hz H-50), 2.41 (s, 3H, –CH3); 13C
0
0
0
0
0
0

A. Detsi et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 17 (2009) 8073–8085
8081
NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 193.78, 163.58, 145.56, 141.59, 136.25,
131.88, 129.79, 129.61, 128.71, 120.07, 119.04, 118.78, 118.60,
21.56; MS (ESI) m/z = 239 [M+H]+.
J6,5 = 8,24 Hz, J6,2 = 2,02 Hz, H-6), 7.18 (d, 1H, J2,6 = 2,0 Hz, H-2),
0
0
0
0
7.03 (dd, 1H, J5,6 = 8.2 Hz, H-5), 6.95 (ddd, 1H, J4 ,3 = J4 ,5 = 7,8 Hz,
J4 ,6 = 0.7 Hz, H-40), 6.92 (d, 1H, J3 ,4 = 7.8 Hz, H-30), 3.98 (s, 3H, –
OCH3 methoxy group on C-4), 3.95 (s, 3H, –OCH3 methoxy group
on C-3); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 193.54, 163.53, 151.80,
149.30, 145.62, 136.12, 129.50, 127.57, 123.56, 120.07, 118.69,
118.56, 117.76, 111.15, 110.29, 55.99; MS (ESI) m/z = 285
[M+H]+; HRMS calcd for C17H17O4: m/z: 285.1121, found:
285.1125.
0
0
0
0
5.2.3. 20-Hydroxy-4-chloro-chalcone (9)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from 2-hydro-
xy-acetophenone (6, 500 mg, 3.67 mmol) and p-chlorobenzalde-
hyde (516 mg, 3.67 mmol), dissolved in 9 mL ethanol and KOH
(20% aqueous solution, 3 mL). The yellow solid was recrystallized
from methanol to afford yellow crystals. Yield: 617 mg (81%). Mp
153–156 °C (Ref. 78 149–150 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d
5.2.7. 20-Hydroxy-3,4,40,60-tetramethoxy-chalcone (13)
ppm 12.76 (s, 1H, OH), 7.92 (d, 1H, J6 ,5 = 8,06 Hz, H-60), 7.87 (d,
1H, JB,A = 15.60 Hz, HB), 7.63 (d, 1H, JA,B = 15.60 Hz, HA), 7.60 (d, 2H,
Prepared following the general procedure starting from 2-hy-
droxy-4,6-dimethoxy-acetophenone (2, 430 mg, 2 mmol) and 3,4-
dimethoxybenzaldehyde (333 mg, 2 mmol), dissolved in 3.5 mL
ethanol and KOH (20% aqueous solution, 2 mL). The solid was
recrystallized from hexane/ethyl acetate to afford orange crystals.
Yield: 340 mg (50%). Mp 149–151 °C; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz)
d ppm 14.37 (s, 1H, OH), 7.79 (d, 1H, JB,A = 15.5 Hz, HB), 7.75 (d,
1H, JA,B = 15.5 Hz, HA), 7.25 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.21 (d, 1H, J6,5 = 8.5 Hz,
H-6), 6.89 (d, 1H, J5,6 = 8.5 Hz, H-5), 6.10 (s, 1H, H-30), 5.95 (s, 1H,
H-50), 3.93, 3.92, 3.90, 3.83 (each s, each 3H, OCH3 groups); 13C
NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 192.45, 168.39, 166.05, 162.40,
153.75, 151.09, 149.16, 142.63, 128.63, 125.46, 122.62, 111.19,
110.52, 106.35, 99.24, 93.85, 91.28, 55.99, 55.86, 55.80, 55.57;
MS (ESI) m/z = 345 [M+H]+; HRMS calcd for C19H21O6: m/z:
345.1333, found: 345.1331.
0
0
0
0
0
0
J2,3 = J6,5 = 8.40 Hz, H-2, H-6), 7.51 (ddd, 1H, J4 ,3 = J4 ,5 = 8.42 Hz;
J4 ,6 = 1.47 Hz, H-40), 7.41 (d, 2H, J3,2 = J5,6 = 8.42 Hz, H-3, H-5), 7,03
0
0
(d, 1H, J3 ,4 = 8.42 Hz; H-30), 6.95 (t, 1H, J5 ,4 = J5 ,6 = 8.42 Hz; H-50);
13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 193.38, 163.55, 143.85, 136.79,
136.48, 132.99, 129.71, 129.53, 129.27, 120.48, 119.84, 118.83,
118.62; MS (ESI) m/z = 259/261 [M+H]+/[M+2+H]+.
0
0
0
0
0
0
5.2.4. 20-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-chalcone (10)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from 2-hy-
droxy-acetophenone (6, 500 mg, 3.67 mmol) and m-methoxybenz-
aldehyde (500 mg, 3.67 mmol), dissolved in 9 mL ethanol and KOH
(20% aqueous solution, 3 mL). The yellow solid was recrystallized
from hexane/ethyl acetate. Yield: 760 mg (81%). Mp 90–92 °C
(Ref. 78 92–94 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm 12.79 (s,
1H, OH), 7.93 (dd, 1H, J6 ,5 = 8.05 Hz, J6 ,4 = 1.47 Hz, H-60), 7.90 (d,
1H, JB,A = 15.5 Hz, HB), 7.64 (d, 1H, JA,B = 15.5 Hz, HA), 7.51 (ddd,
5.2.8. 20-Hydroxy-4,40,60-trimethoxy-chalcone (14)
0
0
0
0
Prepared following the general procedure starting from 2-hy-
droxy-4,6-dimethoxy-acetophenone (2, 300 mg, 1.4 mmol) and p-
methoxybenzaldehyde (191 mg, 1.4 mmol), dissolved in 3.5 mL
ethanol and KOH (20% aqueous solution, 1.2 mL). The yellow solid
was recrystallized from methanol to afford yellow crystals. Yield:
180 mg (41%). Mp 109–112 °C (Ref. 10 109–110 °C); 1H NMR
1H, J4 ,3 = J4 ,5 = 7.14 Hz, J4 ,6 = 1.47 Hz, H-40), 7.35 (d, 1H,
J = 8.05 Hz, H-5), 7.27 (d, 1H, J = 7.33 Hz, H-4), 7.18 (m, 1H, H-2),
0
0
0
0
0
0
7.04 (d, 1H, J3 ,4 = 8.8 Hz, H-30), 7.01–6.93 (m, 2H, H-50, H-6), 3.88
(s, 3H, –OCH3); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 193.72, 163.62,
160.01, 145.38, 136.43, 135.99, 130.04, 129.67, 121.28, 120.46,
120.02, 118.85, 118.65, 116.62, 113.74, 55.40; MS (ESI) m/z = 255
[M+H]+; HRMS calcd for C16H15O3: m/z: 255.1016, found:
255.1009.
0
0
(CDCl3, 600 MHz)
d ppm 14.40 (s, 1H, OH), 7.80 (d, 1H,
JB,A = 15.6 Hz, HB), 7.77 (d, 1H, JA,B = 15.6 Hz, HA), 7.55 (d, 2H,
J2,3 = J6,5 = 8.8 Hz, H-2, H-6), 6.92 (d, 2H, J3,2 = J5,6 = 8.8 Hz, H-3, H-
5), 6.10 (d, 1H, J3 ,5 = 2.3 Hz, H-30), 5.95 (d, J5 ,3 = 2.3 Hz, H-50),
3.91 (s, 3H, –OCH3 methoxy group on C-4), 3.84,3.82 (each s, each
3H, methoxy groups on C-40 and C-60); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d
ppm 192.58, 168.35, 166.00, 162.44, 161.35, 142.44, 130.08,
128.31, 125.12, 114.34, 106.35, 93.80, 91.21, 55.81, 55.54, 55.37;
MS (ESI) m/z = 315 [M+H]+.
0
0
0
0
5.2.5. 20-Hydroxy-2-methoxy-chalcone (11)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from 2-hydro-
xy-acetophenone (6, 500 mg, 3.67 mmol) and o-methoxybenzalde-
hyde (500 mg, 3.67 mmol), dissolved in 9 mL ethanol and KOH (20%
aqueous solution, 3 mL). The yellow solid was recrystallized from
hexane/ethyl acetate. Yield: 793 mg (85%). Mp 111–112 °C; 1H NMR
(CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm 12.93 (s, 1H, OH), 8,23 (d, 1H, JB,A = 15.56 Hz,
5.2.9. 20-Hydroxy-4-chloro-40, 60-dimethoxy-chalcone (15)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from 2-hy-
droxy-4,6-dimethoxy-acetophenone (2, 300 mg, 1.4 mmol) and p-
chlorobenzaldehyde (197 mg, 1.4 mmol), dissolved in 3.5 mL etha-
nol and KOH (20% aqueous solution, 1.2 mL). The yellow solid was
recrystallized from hexane/ethyl acetate. Yield: 270 mg (61%). Mp
168–170 °C (Ref. 10 173–175 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm
14.21 (s, 1H, OH), 7.86 (d, 1H, JB,A = 15.75 Hz, HB), 7.71 (d, 1H,
JA,B = 15.75 Hz, HA), 7.53 (d, 2H, J2,3 = J6,5 = 8.43 Hz, H-2, H-6), 7.37
HB), 7.93 (dd, 1H, J6 ,5 = 8.06 Hz, J6 ,4 = 1.46 Hz, H-60), 7.79 (d, 1H,
0
0
0
0
JA,B = 15.56 Hz, HA), 7.65 (dd, 1H, J3 ,4 = 7.69 Hz; J3 ,5 = 1.47 Hz, H-30),
0
0
0
0
7.49 (ddd, 1H, J4 ,5 = J4 ,3 = 7.87 Hz; J4 ,6 = 1.46 Hz, H-40), 7.41 (ddd,
0
0
0
0
0
0
1H, J5 ,4 = J5 ,6 = 7.87 Hz; J5 ,3 = 1.46 Hz, H-50), 7.04–6.92 (m, 4H, H-
3, H-4, H-5, H-6), 3.95 (s, 3H, –OCH3); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d
ppm 194.31, 163.58, 159.04, 141.12, 136.12, 132.18, 129.70, 129.64,
123.65, 120.80, 120.21, 118.73, 118.55, 111.32, 55.59; MS (ESI) m/
z = 255 [M+H]+; HRMS calcd for C16 H15O3: m/z: 255.1016, found:
255.1011.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
(d,2H, J3,2 = J5,6 = 8.43 Hz, H-3; H-5), 6.11 (d, 1H, J3 ,5 = 2.38 Hz, H-
30), 5.97 (d, 1H, J5 ,3 = 2,38 Hz, H-50), 3.92 (s, 3H, –OCH3 methoxy
group on C-40), 3.84 (s, 3H, –OCH3 methoxy group on C-60); 13C
NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 192.34, 168.45, 166.37, 162.47,
140.76, 135.86, 134.10, 129.45, 129.14, 128.06, 106.31, 100.17,
93.83, 91.33, 55.89, 55.61; MS (ESI) m/z = 319/321 [M+H]+/
[M+2+H]+; HRMS calcd for C17H16ClO4: m/z: 319.0732, found:
319.0728.
0
0
5.2.6. 20-Hydroxy-3,4-dimethoxy-chalcone (12)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from 2-hy-
droxy-acetophenone (6, 1 g, 7.3 mmol) and 3,4-dimethoxybenzal-
dehyde (880 mg, 7.3 mmol), dissolved in 18 mL ethanol and KOH
(20% aqueous solution, 6 mL). The orange oil produced upon acid-
ification solidified in the refrigerator. Recrystallization from meth-
anol gives purple-brown crystals. Yield: 840 mg (41%). Mp 112–
113 °C (Ref. 79 115–117 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm
5.2.10. 20-Hydroxy-4-methyl-40,60-dimethoxy-chalcone (16)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from 2-hy-
droxy-4,6-dimethoxy-acetophenone (2, 500 mg, 2.3 mmol) and
p-methylbenzaldehyde (278 mg, 2.3 mmol), dissolved in 6 mL
12.93 (s, 1H, OH), 7.94 (dd, 1H, J6 ,5 = 7.8 Hz; J6 ,4 = 0.7 Hz H-60),
7.89 (d, 1H, JB,A = 15,4 Hz, HB), 7.53 (d, 1H, JA,B = 15.4 Hz, HA), 7.50
0
0
0
0
(ddd, 1H, J5 ,6 = J5 ,4 = 7.8 Hz, J5 ,3 = 1.65 Hz, H-50), 7.28 (dd, 1H,
0
0
0
0
0
0

8082
A. Detsi et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 17 (2009) 8073–8085
ethanol and KOH (20% aqueous solution, 2.3 mL). The solid was
recrystallized from methanol to afford orange crystals. Yield:
580 mg (84%). Mp 132–133 °C (Ref. 10 125–126 °C); 1H NMR
6.88 (d, 1H, J5,6 = 8,4 Hz, H-5), 5.96 (s, 2H, H-30, H-50); 13C NMR
(CD3COCD3, 75 MHz) ppm 193.22, 165.63, 165.54, 148.75,
d
146.30, 143.69, 128.80, 125.34, 122.96, 116.44, 115.35, 105.67,
(CDCl3, 300 MHz)
d
ppm 14.33 (s, 1H, OH), 7.87 (d, 1H,
96.05; MS (ESI) m/z = 289 [M+H]+.
JA,B = 15.3 Hz, HB), 7.77 (d, 1H, JA,B = 15.3 Hz, HA), 7.51 (d, 2H,
J2,3 = J5,6 = 8.4 Hz, H-2, H-6), 7.21 (d, 2H, J2,3 = J5,6 = 8.4 Hz, H-3, H-
5.3. General procedure for the preparation of Z-aurones 20–3245
5), 6.11 (d, 1H, J3 ,5 = 2.7 Hz, H-30), 5.96 (d, 1H, J3 ,5 = 2.7 Hz, H-
50), 3.92 (s, 3H, –OCH3), 3.84 (s, 3H, –OCH3), 2.39 ((s, 3H, –CH3);
13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 192.70, 168.36, 166.11, 162.49,
142.51, 140.50, 132.83, 129.61, 128.38, 126.50, 106.36, 93.79,
91.23, 55.82, 55.55, 21.49; MS (ESI) m/z = 299 [M+H]+; HRMS calcd
for C18H19O4: m/z: 299.1278, found: 299.1278.
0
0
0
0
R2
O
4
3
9
5
6
10
2
R3
1'
O
8
2'
R1
7
5.2.11. 20-Hydroxy-2,40,60-trimethoxy-chalcone (17)
R4
6'
3'
Prepared following the general procedure starting from 2-hy-
droxy-4,6-dimethoxy-acetophenone (2, 500 mg, 2.3 mmol) and o-
methoxybenzaldehyde (313 mg, 2.3 mmol), dissolved in 6 mL eth-
anol and KOH (20% aqueous solution, 2.3 mL). The yellow oil pro-
duced upon acidification was extracted with dichloromethane,
the extracts were dried (Na2SO4) and the solvent was evaporated
to give a yellow solid. Trituration with diethyl ether produces the
pure chalcone 17 as a yellow solid. Yield: 380 mg (53%). Mp 170–
172 °C (Ref. 80 171–173 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm
14.93 (s, 1H, OH), 8.15 (d, 1H, JB,A = 15.8 Hz, HB), 7.96 (d,1H,
JA,B = 15.8 Hz, HA), 7.61 (dd, 1H, J6,5 = 7.3 Hz, J6,4 = 1.8 Hz, H-6),
7.36 (ddd, 1H, J4,5 = J4,3 = 7.8 Hz, J4,6 = 1,8 Hz, H-4), 6.98 (dd,
J5,6 = J5,4 = 7.3 Hz, H-5), 6.93 (d, 1H, J3,4 = 7.8 Hz, H-3), 6.11 (d, 1H,
5'
4'
R5
To a solution of mercuric acetate (1 equiv) in pyridine was
added chalcone (1 equiv) at room temperature and the mixture
was stirred at 110 °C for 1 h. The cooled reaction mixture was
poured into ice cold water and acidified with HCl (10% aqueous
solution). The precipitated solid was extracted with dichlorometh-
ane or ethyl acetate, the extracts were dried (Na2SO4) and the sol-
vent was evaporated to give a solid which was further purified
either by flash column chromatography or recrystallization.
5.3.1. 40-Methoxy-aurone (20)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from chal-
cone 7 (254 mg, 1 mmol) in 10 mL pyridine. Recrystallization from
CHCl3/CH3OH afforded yellow crystals. Yield: 152 mg (60%).
mp137–138.5 °C (Ref. 63 135 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d
J3 ,5 = 2.6 Hz, H-30), 5.96 (d, 1H, J5 ,3 = 2.6 Hz, H-50), 3.91 (s, 6H,
two –OCH3), 3.84 (s, 3H, –OCH3); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d
ppm 193.05, 168.35, 166.02, 162.50, 158.65, 137.83, 131.30,
128.75, 127.88, 124.59, 111.18, 106.45, 93.77, 91.18, 55.74, 55.53,
55.47; MS (ESI) m/z = 315 [M+H]+.
0
0
0
0
ppm 7.90 (d, 2H, J2 ,3 = J5 ,6 = 8.8 Hz, H-20, H-60), 7.80 (dd, 1H,
0
0
0
0
J4,5 = 7.69 Hz, J4,6 = 1.47, H-4), 7.64 (ddd, 1H, J6,7
= 7.69 Hz,
J6,5 = 7.33 Hz, J4,6 = 1.47, H-6), 7.33 (d, 1H, J6,7 = 7.69 Hz, H-7), 7.21
(ddd, 1H, J5,4 = 7.69 Hz, J5,6 = 7.33 Hz, J5,7 = 0.74 Hz, H-5), 6.99 (d,
5.2.12. 20-Hydroxy-3,4,40,60-tetra(methoxymethyl)-chalcone
(18)
2H, J3 ,2 = J5 ,6 = 8.79 Hz, H-30, H-50), 6.89 (s, 1H, H-10), 3.88 (s,
3H, OCH3); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 184.70, 165.85,
161.08, 145.90, 136.51, 133.44, 125.07, 124.56, 123.26, 121.96,
114.51, 113.39, 112.86, 55.39; MS (ESI) m/z = 253 [M+H]+.
0
0
0
0
Prepared following the general procedure starting from aceto-
phenone 3 (300 mg, 1.1 mmol) and benzaldehyde 5 (247 mg,
1.1 mmol), dissolved in 3 mL ethanol and KOH (20% aqueous solu-
tion, 1 mL). The orange oil produced upon acidification was ex-
tracted with dichloromethane, the extracts were dried (Na2SO4)
and the solvent was evaporated to give a yellow-orange solid,
which was recrystallized from hexane/ethyl acetate. Yield:
450 mg (88%). Mp 91–92 °C (Ref. 55 87–88 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3,
300 MHz) d ppm 13.91 (s, 1H, OH), 7.85 (d, 1H, JB,A = 15.3 Hz, HB),
7.73 (d, 1H, JB,A = 15.3 Hz, HA), 7.50 (d, 1H, J2,6 = 1.5 Hz, H-2),
5.3.2. 40-Methyl-aurone (21)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from chal-
cone 8 (238 mg, 1 mmol) in 10 mL pyridine. The solid residue
was purified by flash column chromatography (petroleum ether/
ethyl acetate 95:5). Yield: 121 mg (51%, yellow solid). Mp 98–
99.5 °C (Ref. 81 98.5–100 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm
7.82–7.78 (m, 2H, H-20, H-60, H-4), 7.63 (ddd, 1H, J6,7 = 7.69 Hz,
J6,5 = 7.33 Hz, J6,4 = 1.46 Hz, H-6), 7.32–7.17 (m, 4H, H-7, H-5, H-
30, H-50), 6.87 (s, 1H, H-10), 2.39 (s, 3H, CH3); 13C NMR (CDCl3,
75 MHz) d ppm 184.70, 166.00, 146.51, 140.46, 136.68, 131.56,
129.68, 129.51, 126.17, 124.58, 123.32, 121.77, 113.32, 112.90,
21.60; MS (ESI) m/z = 237 [M+H]+; HRMS calcd for C16H13O2: m/z:
237.0910, found: 237.0908.
7.20–7.18 (m, 2H, H-5, H-6), 6.31 (d, 1H, J3 ,5 = 2.4 Hz, H-30), 6.27
0
0
(d, 1H, J3 ,5 = 2.4 Hz, H-50), 5.29, 5.28, 5.27, 5.18 (each s, each 2H,
–OCH2O–), 3.54, 3.53, 3.52, 3.48 (each s, each 3H, –OCH3); 13C
NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 192.71, 167.36, 163.37, 159.90,
149.10, 147.53, 142.34, 129.95, 125.94, 124.10, 116.17, 115.25,
107.47, 97.47, 95.48, 95.14, 94.99, 94.67, 94.03, 56.77, 56.43,
56.31, 56.20; HRMS calcd for C23H28NaO10: m/z: 487.1575, found:
487.1579.
0
0
5.2.13. 20,3,4,40,60-Pentahydroxy-chalcone (19)2,55
5.3.3. 40-Chloro-aurone (22)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from chal-
cone 9 (130 mg, 0.5 mmol) in 5 mL pyridine. The solid residue
was purified by flash column chromatography (petroleum ether/
ethyl acetate 95:5). Yield: 56 mg (44%, light yellow solid). Mp
152–160 °C (Ref. 63 150–152 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d
Chalcone 18 (190 mg, 0.41 mmol) was added to methanol
(8 mL) followed by dropwise addition of HCl (10% aqueous solu-
tion, 3.3 mL). The mixture was refluxed for 15 min, until a clear or-
ange solution was obtained. The mixture was diluted with water
and extracted with ethyl acetate. After drying and evaporation of
solvents an orange residue was obtained, which was purified by
flash column chromatography (CH2Cl2/CH3OH 95:5) to give an or-
ange solid. Yield: 63.2 mg (53%). Mp 157–158 °C (Ref. 55 157–
158 °C); 1H NMR (CD3COCD3, 300 MHz) d ppm 8.07 (d, 1H,
JB,A = 15.8 Hz, HB), 7.70 (d, 1H, JA,B = 15.8 Hz, HA), 7.20 (d,
J2,6 = 1.8 Hz, H-2), 7.08 (dd, 1H, J6,5 = 8.4 Hz, J6,2 = 1.8 Hz, H-6),
ppm 7.86 (dd, 2H, J2 ,3 = J6 , 5 = 8.43 Hz, J2 ,6 = 1.84 Hz, H-20, H-60),
0
0
0
0
0
0
7.83–7.80 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.68 (ddd, 1H, J6,7
= 8.42 Hz, J6,5 =
0
0
0
0
7.32 Hz, J6,4 = 1.46 Hz, H-6), 7.43 (dd, 2H, J2 ,3 = J5 ,6 = 8.79 Hz,
J3 ,5 = 1.83 Hz, H-30, H-50), 7.34 (d, 1H, J6,7 = 8.06 Hz, H-7), 7.27–
7.22 (m, 1H, H-5), 6.84 (s, 1H, H-10); MS (ESI) m/z = 257/259
[M+H]+/[M+2+H]+.
0
0

A. Detsi et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 17 (2009) 8073–8085
8083
5.3.4. 30-Methoxy-aurone (23)
(65%). Mp 171–173 °C (Ref. 41 179–180 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3,
300 MHz) d ppm 7.66 (d, 2H, J2 ,3 = J5 ,6 = 8.43 Hz, H-20, H-60),
0
0
0
0
Prepared following the general procedure starting from chal-
cone 10 (500 mg, 2 mmol) in 20 mL pyridine. Recrystallization
from chloroform/methanol afforded a light yellow solid. Yield:
310 mg (62%). Mp 120–121 °C (Ref. 31 117–119 °C); 1H NMR
7.27 (d, 2H, J2 ,3 = J5 ,6 = 8.42 Hz, H-30, H-50), 6.57 (s, 1H, H-10),
6.26 (d, 1H, J7,5 = 1.84 Hz, H-7), 6.01 (d, 1H, J7,5 = 1.83 Hz, H-5),
3.85, 3.81 (each s, each 3H, –OCH3); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d
ppm 180.27, 169.00, 168.83, 159.32, 147.92, 135.02, 132.06,
131.00, 128.91, 109.07, 104.93, 94.04, 89.20, 56.12, 56.05; MS
(ESI) m/z = 317/319 [M+H]+/[M+2+H]+; HRMS calcd for C17H14ClO4:
m/z: 317.0575, found: 317.0573.
0
0
0
0
(CDCl3, 300 MHz)
d
ppm 7.81 (ddd, 1H, J4,5 = 7.69 Hz,
J4,6 = 1.46 Hz, J4,7 = 0.73 Hz, H-4), 7.66 (ddd, 1H, J6,7 = 7.33 Hz,
J6,4 = 1.46 Hz, H-6), 7.51–7.50 (m, 2H, H-40, H-20), 7.38 (d, 1H,
J6 ,5 = 8.42 Hz H-60), 7.33 (dd,1H, J7,6 = 8.42 Hz; J7,5 = 0.73 Hz, H-7),
0
0
0
0
7.23 (dd, 1H, J5,6 = J5,4 = 7.33 Hz, H-5), 6.97 (dd, 1H, J5 ,4 = 8.42 Hz;
J5 ,6 = 2.56 Hz, H-50), 6.87 (s, 1H, H-10), 3.88 (s, 3H, –OCH3); 13C
NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 184.93, 166.32, 159.94, 147.14,
137.07, 133.67, 129.98, 124.84, 124.46, 123.66, 121.77, 116.67,
115.90, 113.11, 113.08, 55.49; MS (ESI) m/z = 253 [M+H]+.
5.3.9. 4,6-Dimethoxy-40-methyl-aurone (28)
0
0
Prepared following the general procedure starting from chal-
cone 16 (300 mg, 1 mmol) in 10 mL pyridine. Recrystallization
from methanol/hexane afforded yellow crystals. Yield: 140 mg
(48%). Mp 178–180 °C (Ref. 41 186–188 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3,
5.3.5. 20-Methoxy-aurone (24)
300 MHz) d ppm 7.76 (d, 2H, J2 ,3 = J5 ,6 = 8.06 Hz, H-20, H-60),
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Prepared following the general procedure starting from chal-
cone 11 (254 mg, 1 mmol) in 10 mL pyridine. The solid residue
was purified by flash column chromatography (petroleum ether/
ethyl acetate 92:8 and then 80:20). Yield: 122 mg (48%, yellow so-
lid). Mp 173–174 °C (Ref. 63 169 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d
ppm 8.31 (dd, 1H, J4,5 = 7.69 Hz, J4,6 = 1.46 Hz, H-4), 7.82 (dd, 1H,
J7,6 = 7.69 Hz, J7,5 = 1.46 Hz, H-7), 7.64 (ddd, 1H, J5,4 = 8.42 Hz,
J5,6 = 7.33 Hz, J5,7 = 1.46 Hz, H-5), 7.49 (s, 1H, H-10), 7.38 (ddd,
1H, J6,7 = 8.42 Hz, J6,5 = 7.32 Hz, J6,7 = 1.46 Hz, H-6), 7.32 (dd, 1H,
7.23 (d, 2H, J2 ,3 = J5 ,6 = 8.06 Hz, H-30, H-50), 6.76 (s, 1H, H-10),
6.38 (d, 1H, J7,5 = 1.83 Hz, H-7), 6.12 (d, 1H, J7,5 = 1.83 Hz, H-5),
3.95, 3.91 (each s, each 3H, –OCH3), 2.39 (s, 3H, CH3); 13C NMR
(CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 180.69, 168.97, 168.84, 159.38, 147.45,
139.73, 131.11, 129.77, 129.54, 111.00, 105.35, 93.98, 89.19,
56.18, 56.08, 21.54; MS (ESI) m/z = 297 [M+H]+; HRMS calcd for
C18H17O4: m/z: 297.1121, found: 297.1118.
5.3.10. 20,4,6-Trimethoxy-aurone (29)
J6 ,5 = 8.40 Hz, J6 ,4 = 0.73 Hz, H-60), 7.21 (ddd, 1H, J4 ,3 = 8.06 Hz,
Prepared following the general procedure starting from chal-
cone 17 (250 mg, 0.8 mmol) in 7.5 mL pyridine. Recrystallization
from methanol/pentane afforded light yellow crystals. Yield:
172 mg (68%). Mp 216–218 °C (Ref. 41 215–217 °C); 1H NMR
0
0
0
0
0
0
J4 ,5 = 7.69 Hz, J4 ,6 = 0.73 Hz, H-40), 7.09–7.04 (m, 1H, H-50), 6.93
0
0
0
0
(dd, 1H, J4 ,3 = 8.42 Hz, J3 ,5 = 0.73 Hz, H-30), 3.91 (s, 3H, –OCH3);
13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 184.68, 165.96 (C-8), 158.87 (C-
20), 146.94, 136.57, 132.00, 131.47, 124.61, 123.27, 121.89,
121.33, 120.82, 112.89, 110.76, 107.26, 55.60 (OCH3); MS (ESI)
m/z = 253 [M+H]+.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
(CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm 8.22 (dd, 1H, J6 ,5 = 7.69 Hz, J6 ,4 = 1.83 Hz,
H-60), 7.33 (ddd, 1H, J5 ,4 = J5 ,6 = 7.69 Hz, J5 ,3 = 1.46 Hz, H-50), 7.32
0
0
0
0
0
0
(s, 1H, H-10), 7.03 (dd, J4 ,3 = J4 ,5 = 7.69 Hz, H-40), 6.92 (d, 1H,
J3,4 = 7.69, H-30), 6.38 (d, 1H, J7,5 = 1.83 Hz, H-7), 6.13 (d, 1H,
J7,5 = 1.83 Hz, H-5), 3.95, 3.91, 3.90 (each s, each 3H, –OCH3); 13C
NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 180.57, 168.84, 168.65, 159.30,
158.46, 147.84, 131.51, 130.73, 121.5, 120.57, 110.62, 105.37,
104.87, 93.86, 89.10, 56.11, 55.98, 55.45; MS (ESI) m/z = 313
[M+H]+; HRMS calcd for C18H17O5: m/z: 313.1071, found:
313.1052.
0
0
0
0
5.3.6. 30,40-Dimethoxy-aurone (25)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from chal-
cone 12 (300 mg, 1 mmol) in 13 mL pyridine. Recrystallization
from methanol/pentane afforded bright yellow crystals. Yield:
188 mg (64%). Mp 160–162 °C (Ref. 31 175–178 °C); 1H NMR
(CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm 7.82 (dd, 1H, J4,5 = 7.69 Hz, J4,6 = 1.46 Hz,
H-4), 7.65 (ddd, 1H, J6,7 = 8.05 Hz, J6,5 = 7.69 Hz, J6,4 = 1.46 Hz, H-
6), 7.55 (d, 1H, J2 ,6 = 1.83 Hz, H-20), 7.51 (dd, 1H, J6 ,5 = 8.43 Hz,
5.3.11. 30,4,40,6-Tetra(methoxymethyl)-aurone (30)
0
0
0
0
J6 ,2 = 1.84 Hz, H-60), 7.32 (d, 1H, J7,6 = 8.42 Hz, H-7), 7.21 (dd, 1H,
Prepared following the general procedure starting from chal-
cone 18 (500 mg, 1.1 mmol) in 11 mL pyridine. Recrystallization
from methanol/dichloromethane afforded yellow crystals. Yield:
220 mg (60%). Mp 85–88 °C; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm
0
0
J5,4 = 8.05 Hz, J5,6 = 0.73 Hz, H-5), 6.95 (d, 1H, J5 ,6 = 8.42 Hz, H-50),
6.88 (s, 1H, H-10), 3.98 (s, 3H, –OCH3), 3.95 (s, 3H, –OCH3); 13C
NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 184.40, 165.73, 150.88, 149.06,
145.91, 136.48, 125.98, 125.26, 124.55, 123.31, 121.88, 113.78,
113.59, 112.80, 112.21, 55.93, 55.90; MS (ESI) m/z = 283 [M+H]+.
0
0
7.69 (d, 1H, J2 ,6 = 1.8 Hz, H-20), 7.53 (dd, 1H, J6 ,5 = 8.4 Hz,
0
0
0
0
J2 ,6 = 1.8 Hz, H-60), 7.21 (d, 1H, J5 ,6 = 8.4 Hz, H-50), 6.71 (s, 1H, H-
10), 6.59 (d, 1H, J7,5 = 1.8 Hz, H-7), 6.52 (d, 1H, J7,5 = 1.8 Hz, H-5),
5.37 (s, 2H, CH2OCH3 on C-40), 5.29 (s, 4H, CH2OCH3 on C-4 and
C-6), 5.25 (s, 2H, CH2OCH3 on C-30), 3.56, 3.54, 3.53, 3.52 (each s,
each 3H, –CH2OCH3), 2.39 (s, 3H, CH3); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz)
d ppm 180.62, 168.35, 165.92, 156.82, 148.63, 147.08, 147.04,
126.96, 126.39, 119.65, 116.30, 111.02, 106.59, 98.71, 95.71,
95.12, 95.02, 94.48, 92.91, 56.59, 56.57, 56.31. MS (ESI) m/z = 463
[M+H]+.
0
0
0
0
5.3.7. 4,40,6-Trimethoxy-aurone (26)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from chal-
cone 14 (100 mg, 0.3 mmol) in 3 mL pyridine. The solid residue
was purified by flash column chromatography (petroleum ether/
ethyl acetate 7:3). Yield: 46 mg (50%). Mp 166–169 °C (Ref. 41
170–171 °C); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz) d ppm 7.80 (d, 2H,
J2 ,3 = J5 ,6 = 8.9 Hz, H-20, H-60), 6.93 (d, 2H, J2 ,3 = J5 ,6 = 8.9 Hz, H-
30, H-50), 6.72 (s, 1H, H-10), 6.35 (d, 1H, J5,7 = 1.83 Hz, H-7), 6.10
(d, 1H, J5,7 = 1.83 Hz, H-5), 3.93, 3.88, 3.83 (each s, each 3H, –
OCH3); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz) d ppm 180.53, 168.71, 168.65,
160.50, 159.23, 146.70, 132.80, 130.01, 125.23, 114.45, 114.27,
110.91, 105.35, 93.84, 89.08, 56.08, 55.99, 55.74, 55.26; MS (ESI)
m/z = 313 [M+H]+.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5.3.12. Aureusidin (31)
Aurone 31 (220 mg, 0.48 mmol) was added to methanol (9 mL)
followed by dropwise addition of HCl (10% aqueous solution,
4 mL). The mixture was refluxed for 15 min, until a clear orange
solution was obtained. The mixture was diluted with water and ex-
tracted with ethyl acetate. After drying and evaporation of solvents
an orange solid was obtained, which was purified by flash column
chromatography (CH2Cl2/MeOH 8:2, then pure MeOH). Yield:
121 mg (88%). Mp 270–273 °C (dec.) (Ref. 64 265–270 °C); 1H
5.3.8. 40-Chloro-4, 6-dimethoxy-aurone (27)
Prepared following the general procedure starting from chal-
cone 15 (150 mg, 0.44 mmol) in 5 mL pyridine. Recrystallization
from methanol/hexane afforded cream crystals. Yield: 90 mg
NMR (CD3OD, 300 MHz) d ppm 7.47 (d, 1H, J2 ,6 = 1.83 Hz, H-20),
0
0

8084
A. Detsi et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 17 (2009) 8073–8085
7.18 (dd, 1H, J6 ,5 = 8.43 Hz, J6 ,2 = 1.83 Hz, H-60), 7.82 (d,
at 234 nm was recorded and compared with the appropriate stan-
dard inhibitor.
0
0
0
0
J5 ,6 = 8.43 Hz, H-50), 6.57 (s, 1H, H-10), 6.17 (br s, 1H, H-5), 6.00
(br s, 1H, H-7); 13C NMR (CD3OD, 75 MHz) d ppm 182.95, 169.36,
148.88, 147.99, 146.63, 132.51, 125.85, 125.80, 118.63, 116.60,
112.74, 104.93, 91.41; MS (ESI) m/z = 287 [M+H]+; HRMS calcd
for C15H11O6: m/z: 287.0550, found: 287.0536.
0
0
5.4.6. Physicochemical studies
Since lipophilicity is a significant physicochemical property
determining distribution, bioavailability, metabolic activity, and
elimination, we tried to determine theoretically calculated C log P
values82,83 in n-octanol-buffer (Tables 1 and 2).
5.4. Biological assays
Each in vitro experiment was performed at least in triplicate
and the standard deviation of absorbance was less than 10% of
the mean
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Biobyte Corp. and Dr. Hansch and Dr.
Leo for their support and free access to the C-QSAR program. This
research has been done using the above program via Internet. Bio-
byte Corp., 201 West 4th Street, Suite 204, Claremont, CA 91711,
USA.
5.4.1. Determination of the reducing activity of the stable
radical 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)66
To an ethanolic solution of DPPH (0.05 mM) in absolute ethanol
the compounds dissolved in DMSO was added (final concentration
0.1 mM). The mixture was shaken vigorously and allowed to stand
for 20 min or 60 min; absorbance at 517 nm was determined spec-
trophotometrically and the percentage of activity was calculated.
All tests were undertaken on three replicates and the results pre-
sented in Table 1 were averaged.
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