For the first time, a review has been conducted on the methods for the synthesis, as well as on the chemical, physical and biological properties, of 5-arylpent-4-ene-1,3-diones (hemicurcuminoids). The most prominent pathways for construction of the enedione moiety are the Pabon reaction, Baker-Venkataraman rearrangement and Claisen condensation. The obtained compounds could be used in the reactions with dinucleophiles, nucleophiles, and electrophiles or act as ambiphiles.