An Expedient Synthesis of 2-(ω-Carboxyalkyl)polyhydroxyisoflavones

Abstract

Derivatives of the isoflavones daidzein and genistein, carrying a carboxyalkyl attachment at C-2 were prepared by cyclization of unprotected 2,4,4′-trihydroxy- or 2,4,4′,6-tetrahydroxydeoxybenzoin in the presence of a number of 1,ω-alkanedicarboxylic acid monoester monochlorides, K2CO3 and a phase-transfer catalyst in dry acetone. Hydrolysis under basic conditions of the resulting 2-(ω-alkoxycarbonylalkyl)isoflavones gives the title compounds, useful for developing RIA techniques for the analysis of the parent isoflavones.