Synthesis and characterization of novel silyl derivatives of curcumin

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), which is extensively used as a spice, food preservative and colouring material. Curcumin is a main bioactive natural compound derived from the rhizome of this plant. Curcumin can exist in several tautomeric forms, keto and enol. The keto form is more stable than enol form. Silyl ethers have proven to be versatile substrates for a wide variety of organic reactions and they are prepared by reacting an alcohol and a silicon halide using a base such as triethylamine in stoichiometric quantity. Curcumin silyl ether derivatives were prepared under mild conditions. The stability of products decreases with increasing size of the silyl substitutions and the products will be unstable.