Microwave Assisted Synthesis of p-Methoxycinnamamides and p-Methoxy--nitrostyrenes from Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate and Screening their Anti-inflammatory Activity

A new modification reaction of ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (1) to afford a series of p-methoxycinnamamide and p-methoxy--nitrostyrene has been developed by using the assistance of the unmodified microwave oven. The synthesized compounds were characterized by using various spectroscopic techniques and furthermore screened for their anti-inflammatory activity by using anti-denaturation of heat bovine serum albumin (BSA) method. The result of bioassay indicated that p-methoxycinnamamide derivatives and p-methoxy--nitrostyrenes showed interesting anti-inflammatory activity