Synthesis and Biological Significance of Dibenzalacetone and its Derivatives as Bioactive α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

α,β-Unsaturated carbonyl compounds are important pharmacophores in medicinal chemistry due to the presence of a conjugated carbon–carbon double bond and a carbonyl group. This structure creates an electrophilic β-carbon capable of undergoing Michael addition with nucleophilic sites in biomolecules, enabling interactions with proteins and enzymes involved in various biological pathways. Natural compounds such as curcumin, cinnamaldehyde, and dibenzalacetone contain α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups that contribute to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. Due to their structural reactivity and biological significance, α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds are widely explored as promising scaffolds for the development of new therapeutic agents in modern drug discovery. Analogues of dibenzalacetone, curcumin, and cinnamaldehyde are widely investigated as potential pharmaceutical agents