Synthesis of dibenzoylmethane derivatives and inhibition of mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium.

Twenty dibenzoylmethanes with methyl, methoxy, bromo, chloro, or fluoro substitution on either one or both benzene rings were synthesized and assayed for inhibition of the mutagenicity of 2-nitrofluorene in S. typhimurium TA98. 2,2-Dimethoxy, 3,3-dimethoxy and 3,3,4,4-tetramethoxydibenzoylmethane was as active as dibenzoylmethane. None of the halogen-substituted dibenzoylmethanes were active. These results demonstrate that dibenzoylmethanes can inhibit the mutagenicity of 2-nitrofluorene, and that modifications made on the benzene rings of dibenzoylmethane cannot enhance the antimutagenicity of this parent compound.