Abstract
In order to check the antibacterial potential of bischalcones derived from 4,6-diacetyl resorcinol, a number of chalcone derivatives were synthesized by condensation with appropriate aromatic aldehydes. Out of these compounds 3b-i, 4a and 4b showed a good antibacterial activity. Methylation of the two chelated hydroxyls reduced the activity. However, oxidative cyclization of 3a and 3b resulted in compounds 4a and 4b which were found to be considerably active. The alternative method of synthesis of 4a and 4b via Baker-Venkatararnan rearrangement did not succeed.