Abstract

A novel series of substituted chalcones containing benzyloxy moiety (3a-3h) was synthesized by microwave induced Claisen-Schmidt condensation of 2-acetyl-1-naphthol and its halo derivatives with different substituted aromatic aldehydes. All the synthesized chalcones were characterized by spectral analysis and screened for their antibacterial and antifungal effectiveness by using standard methods. It is found that the microwave irradiation technique is superior in terms of considerable increase in the reaction rate, yields and shortening the reaction time. The investigation of antimicrobial screening revealed that compounds (3a-3d) containing benzyloxy group at para position of aldehyde ring of chalcones possessing more potent antimicrobial activity.

Key words: Chalcones; Claisen-Schmidt condensation; microwave irradiation; antibacterial activity; antifungal activity.