A simple and highly efficient method for the synthesis of chalcones by using borontrifluoride-etherate

Chalcones are secondary metabolites of terrestrial plants, precursors for the biosynthesis of ilavonoids and exhibit various biological activities. Condensation of substituted acetophenones (2a-12a) with various aromatic aldehydes (1b-7b) in the presence of BF3-Et2O at room temperature gave chalcones in 75-96% yield. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.