Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Some New Chalcones Containing Benzofuran and Benzofuran Schiff Bases

Benzofuran nucleus frequently occurs in natural products. In the present course of study an attempt is made for synthesis of new Benzofuran derivatives. 5-chloro-2-hydroxy acetophenone 2 was prepared by the Fries rearrangement with anhydrous aluminium chloride at 1300c for 3 hrs. The compound 2 was treated with chloroacetone in presence of anhydrous acetone and potassium carbonate gave 5-chloro-3-methyl-2-acetyl Benzofuran 3. Compound 3 underwent condensation with aromatic aldehyde and aromatic amines to furnished chalcone and Schiff derivatives 4a-e and 5a-e respectively. The synthesized compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activities.