P-14 Synthesis and Spectroscopic Studies of Chalbenes

Buller Hallway

This study initially aimed to develop a method for synthesizing structural hybrids of chalcones and stilbenes, two classes of organic phytochemicals. A second goal was to examine the spectroscopic properties of these hybrids, which we have designated “chalbenes.” The proposed method of synthesizing these chalcone-stilbene hybrids, or chalbenes, had two steps: first, the conversion from cyanostilbenes to methyl stilbene ketones using Grignard reagents; and second, a Claisen Schmidt reaction converting the methyl stilbene ketone to the final chalbene. When attempting to carry out the first step, however, spectroscopic analysis found the conversion to the methyl stilbene ketone to have been unsuccessful. In light of this outcome, the focus of this study has evolved to optimizing the conversion of cyanostilbenes to methyl stilbene ketones. So far, our work has focused on three experimental variables: catalyst, time, and solvent.