Facile Formation of Methylenebis(chalcone)s through Unprecedented Methylenation Reaction. Application to Antiparasitic and Natural Product Synthesis

The formation of methylenebis(chalcone)s has been discovered during deprotection with methoxymethyl groups from trihydroxychalcones. Studies on this methylenation reaction led to a mechanism hypothesis that was extended to other chalcones and to dihydrochalcone, acetophenone, benzophenone and flavone derivatives. This new method was applied to the rapid synthesis of natural product piperanduncin C. These original methylenebis compounds were also evaluated for their antiparasitic activity.