A score years' update in the synthesis and biological evaluation of medicinally important 2-pyridones.

2-Pyridone core structure has attracted much attention due to its abundance in natural products of biological importance. 2-Pyridone derivatives display diverse biological activities. From being antimicrobial, antimalarial, antitumor, cardiotonic and anti-fibrotic agents to the induction of neurite outgrowth, they affect many biological processes. They find significant role in medicines, agriculture, pharmacophore designing and are also used as synthones for other heterocyclic compounds. Therefore, the main purpose of this review is to assess the biological pursuits of 2-pyridone compounds. In addition, this review presents the overview of synthesis of medicinally active 2-pyridones along with their biological activity done in the past two decades.