Total synthesis, antiprotozoal and cytotoxicity activities of rhuschalcone VI and analogs.

The total synthesis of a potent antiplasmodial natural bichalcone, rhuschalcone VI, is described starting from simple and available resorcinol and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. Key steps include the solvent-free Aldol syntheses of chalcones, and the successful application of the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction in the synthesis of bichalcones. The present work constitutes a general method for the rapid syntheses of a number of bichalcones related to rhuschalcone VI. Some of the bichalcones showed moderate antiprotozoal activities against Bodo caudatus, a preliminary screening system for antitrypanosomal activities, most of them with little or no cytotoxicity. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.