2,3-Diarylpyran-4-ones: a new series of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors

A new series of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors with γ-pyrone as central scaffold unit has been synthesized and their biological activities were evaluated against cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity. The changes of physical properties of the molecules were performed according to the medicinal chemistry principles and moderate oral anti-inflammatory activity was obtained with this series of inhibitors.