Michael/Michael Addition Cascade of 2-Benzylidene-1- indanones with Chalcones: Synthesis and Biological Evaluations of Novel Polycyclic Compounds

A series of novel racemic 2-aryloyl-1,3-diaryl-2,3,3a,8a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[ a]inden-8(1H)-one derivatives were synthesized from KOtBu mediated Michael/Michael addition reaction of 2- benzylidene-1-indanones with chalcones in high yields. This method provides an efficient route for the synthesis of a new class of polycyclic compounds have five stereo centers. The obtained polycyclic compounds were evaluated for the antimicrobial and anticancer activities against fifteen microorganism and three cell lines. The compound 3r have the best activity value against the cells.