Antimicrobial activity of two a,b-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, 9-(propan-3-ene-1-methyl-2-one) anthracene (5) and trans, trans –dibenzylidene acetone (7) were investigated using the Agar diffusion and Poison plate methods. Compounds were synthesized via the aldol route in very good yields and were characterized via 1H NMR, 13 C NMR, DEPT-135 and IR spectroscopy. Both compounds were found to be antimicrobial. However, their mode of action was more antibacterial than antifungal.
Antimicrobial activity, α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, Agar well diffusion, poison plate methods and spectroscopy
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