Synthesis of 2'-Hydroxydihydrochalcone from Flavone

To establish the synthetic method for dihydrochalcones as an important bioactive compounds, 2'-hydroxydihydrochalcone has been synthesized from the reduction of flavone in 20% yield. Flavone with five equivalents of ammonium formate in the presence of Pd/C in methanol under atmosphere produced the C-ring opened product. It was characterized by UV-VIS, ESI-MS and spectroscopy, and identified as 2'-hydroxydihydrochalcone.