Synthesis of Abyssinone II and related compounds as potential chemopreventive agents

A facile and efficient approach to the synthesis of prenylated flavonoids as potential chemopreventive agents has been described. This features the synthesis of prenyl halide, prenylation of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, formation of prenylated polyhydroxychalcone and cyclization of prenylated polyhydroxychalcone to flavanones (15) and (16), and flavonol (17) starting from isoprene (1). The structures of all three compounds have been characterized by NMR, IR and mass spectroscopy.