SYNTHESIS, CHEMICAL TRANSFORMATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF A NOVEL CLASS OF NITROOLEFINS - 1,3-DIARYL-2-NITROPROP-1-ENES

Abstract

synthesis of novel, biologically active 1,3-diaryl-2-nitroprop-1-enes (4) is reported. The synthesis involves condensation between aromatic aldehydes (1) and beta-aryl nitroethanes (3). The chemical transformation of the nitro group in diaryl nitropropenes to a carbonyl function has resulted in a new route to the synthesis of an alpha-hydroxy analog (7c) of a naturally occurring 3, 3'. 4, 4'-tetramethoxy chalcone. The antimicrobial activity of the 1, 3-diaryl-2-nitroprop-1-enes (4a-j) was tested against three gram positive bacteria, two gram negative bacteria and two fungi. These compounds exhibited broad spectrum and microbial activity.