Synthesis of some newer analogues of substituted dibenzoyl phenol as potent anti-inflammatory agents

Benzoylation of hydroxybenzophenones 1a–f affords substituted benzoyl phenyl benzoates 3a–f, which on Fries rearrangement using microwave irradiation led to a facile synthesis of solely dibenzoyl phenols 4a–f in excellent yield. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for their anti-inflammatory activity and were compared with standard drugs. Out of the compounds studied, the compound 4e showed more potent activity than the standard drugs at all doses tested.