Efficient liquid-phase synthesis of 2'-hydroxychalcones.

The condensation of 2'-hydroxyacetophenone (1) with aromatic aldehydes (2) in a well closed vessel using microwave irradiation or classical heating at 132 degrees C, provides a fast and simple method for the liquid-phase synthesis of 2'-hydroxychalcones without formation of by-products. Antiproliferative activity of these compounds were evaluated using MCF-7 cells.