Synthesis and pharmacological activity evaluation of 2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromone analogues: The principal components in agarwood.

2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromones (PECs), the pivotal constituents responsible for the distinctive aroma and pharmacological potential of agarwood, are primarily obtained through extraction from natural materials. The restricted availability of agarwood has, however, hindered a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of their biological properties. In this study, we have chemically synthesized a total of 38 PEC derivatives, including 23 new compounds that had not been previously isolated from agarwood.