A combinatorial mini library of naphthalene substituted chalcones has been prepared by solution phase chemistry. Screening of these mixtures for leukotriene Bq inhibitory activity using human whole blood assay (HWBL) afforded a lead compound, 1-(6-butoxy-2-naphthyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one (K(4)A(3)) with an IC50 value of 18.5 mu M. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.