Dibenzylideneacetone (DBA) and its derivatives possess promising ultraviolet (UV) absorption characteristics due to their extended pi-conjugation, making them potential candidates for sunscreen agents. This study focuses on synthesizing DBA derivatives via cross-aldol condensation reactions between aldehydes and ketones under basic conditions. Utilizing various substituents, we synthesized and characterized multiple DBA derivatives to evaluate their UV-absorbing properties, including molar extinction coefficients and λmax values.

UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed that modifying the DBA scaffold by introducing different functional groups can enhance UV absorption, which is crucial for effective UV protection. Additionally, melting points and spectroscopic data provide insights into the synthesized compounds thermal stability and molecular structure. Future work will further investigate the structure-activity relationships, photostability, and potential for formulation into sunscreens. Our findings contribute to the development of novel UV-protective agents, aiming to improve the efficacy and safety of sunscreen molecules.