Synthesis of some newer analogues of substituted dibenzoyl phenol as potent anti-inflammatory agents

Benzoylation of hydroxybenzophenones 1a-f affords substituted benzoyl phenyl benzoates 3a-f, which on Fries rearrangement using microwave irradiation led to a facile synthesis of solely dibenzoyl phenols 4a-f in excellent yield. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for their anti-inflammatory activity and were compared with standard drugs. Out of the compounds studied, the compound 4e showed more potent activity than the standard drugs at all doses tested. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.