Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of novel 4′-fluoro-2′-hydroxy-chalcone derivatives as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents

In an effort to develop safe and potent anti-inflammatory agents, a series of novel 4 '-fluoro-2 '-hydroxychalcones 5a-d and their dihydropyrazole derivatives 6a-d was prepared. It was synthesized via aldol condensation of 4 '-fluoro-2 '-hydroxyacetophenone with appropriately substituted aldehydes followed by cyclization with hydrazine hydrate. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cyclooxygenase inhibition selectivity and analgesic activities. The dimethoxychalcone 5a and its dihydropyrazole derivative 6a showed the highest antioxidant activity, while the monomethoxychalcone 5d and its dihydropyrazole derivative 6d showed the highest analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. It was also found that there is a close correlation between 4 '-fluoro-2 '-hydroxychalcones 5a-d and their dihydropyrazole derivatives 6a-d in the screened biological activities. To explain the correlation between the synthesized chalcones and their dihydropyrazole derivatives, especially for the anti-inflammatory activity, docking studies were performed.