3-(4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxyphenyl)Prop-2-Enoic Acid → 7,4'-Dihydroxy-3'-methoxyflavanone

Participants

Reaction Steps

Resorcinol (15), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-cinnamic acid (16) and H2SO4 (5%) were refluxed in THF for 4 hours to provide 7,4′-dihydroxy-3′-methoxy flavanone (17) (90% yield). The product, 7,4′-dihydroxy-3′-methoxy flavanone (17) was then treated with 10% sodium hydroxide at 80° C. for 1 hour, followed by reduction with sodium borohydride in propanol to provide, as confirmed LC-MS/PDA detection, 1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(3′-methoxy-4′-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propanol (19). The crude product exhibits quite strong tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The mixture was further purified by HTP.

Provenance & Evidence