Synthesis of novel curcuminoids accommodating a central β-enaminone motif and their impact on cell growth and oxidative stress.

Curcuminoids are high-potential drugs targeting multiple components of vital signaling pathways without being toxic, and are therefore considered to be valuable lead structures in medicinal chemistry. Unfortunately, most curcuminoids poorly reach their site of action because of low bioavailability issues, (partly) associated with the labile β-diketo structure. In that respect, curcumin derivatives bearing a central β-enaminone fragment may have improved solubility and intestinal stability, and therefore may represent a new class of analogs with higher bioactivity.