Tetraketones, Synthesis and their Applications

Tetraketones have attracted much attention because of their biological activities and molecular structure characteristics. Tetraketones are important precursors extensively used in the synthesis of acridinediones, as laser dyes and for the synthesis of various heterocyclic compounds. Tetraketones show significant lipoxygenase inhibitor activity and strong anti-oxidant potential. Also tetraketones are interesting due to their similar properties to those of 1,4-dihydropyridines, with similar structure to those of biologically important compounds, such as NADH and NADPH. The lipoxygenase inhibiting and antioxidant properties of tetraketones were also studied. Tetraketones as a new class of tyrosinase inhibitors were introduced. These studies lead to the discovery of therapeutically potent agents against clinically important dermatological disorders including hyperpigmentation as well as skin melanoma. Various methods have been reported for the synthesis of compounds belonging to these classes. Each of these methods have their own advantages but also suffer from certain disadvantages such as prolonged reaction time, tedious work-up processes, low yield, high temperature and hazardous reaction conditions. In below the synthesis of tetraketones under different conditions is reported. In this review has been introduced the synthesis and applications of tetraketones in defferent conditions such as acidic, basic, ionic liquid and so on. Also some applications of tetraketones in organic synthesis as well as pharmacology were described.