A novel route to synthesis of flavones from salicylaldehyde and acetophenone derivatives

Convenient, facile, and alternate synthesis of medicinally important flavones is reported. The 2-hydroxychalcones derived from condensation between acetophenones and salicylaldehyde, underwent oxidative cyclization on heating in the presence of catalytic iodine, generating diversified flavones under solvent-free conditions. Eleven compounds have been synthesized in good to excellent yields and their mechanism of formation is described.