Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, and Thermal Analysis of (E)-1-(2-Hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one

Herein, the previously unreported (E)-1-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one 3 was synthesized by Claisen–Schmidt condensation of 1-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)ethan-1-one 1 and 5-methylfuran-2-carbaldehyde 2 using potassium hydroxide in an ethanol/water mixture at 50 °C. The protocol afforded 3 in 85% yield with high atom economy (93.5%), an EcoScale score of 61.5, and partial material recovery (MRP = 0.65). The product was comprehensively characterized by FT–IR, NMR, UV–Vis, EI–MS, HRMS, TG, and DSC analyses. UV–Vis and solvatochromic studies revealed a bathochromic shift in the lowest-energy absorption band with increasing solvent polarity, indicating a solvent-dependent electronic response consistent with the extended conjugation of the chalcone framework.