A series of arylfuranylpropenones 3a-i were synthesized by the reaction of 5-(2-nitro-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-furfural I with various acetophenones 2 by Claisen-Schmidt condensation. All the newly synthesized chalcones were characterized by elemental analysis and spectral studies. Most of them showed SHG conversion efficiency in powder form. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.