Design, docking studies and molecular iodine catalyzed synthesis of benzo[a]xanthen-one derivatives as hyaluronidase inhibitors

A series of novel benzo[a]xanthen-11(12H)-one derivatives 4a–m were designed and subjected to docking studies. The title compounds were synthesized from 3-aryl-4-formylsydnones 1a–m, β-naphthol and dimedone in presence of molecular iodine as a catalyst and evaluated for their in vitro inhibitory effects on the hyaluronidase.