Synthesis of β-ionone derived chalcones as potent antimicrobial agents.

A series of chalcones (3a-v) have been synthesized by condensation of β-ionone (1) with a variety of aldehydes (2a-v). The synthesized compounds have been screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against five bacterial and five fungal strains, using disc diffusion assay. The evaluated compounds display a wide range of activities, from completely inactive to the highly active compounds. Some of the compounds are also active against methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).