The synthesis of 3-benzyl-7-isopropoxychromone (2), an homologue of ip
riflavone, was performed by alkaline isomerization of the correspondin
g 3-benzylidene derivative, obtained by crotonic condensation of 7-iso
propoxychromanone with benzaldehyde. The ''in vitro'' stimulating acti
vity of compound 2 on the osteoblast cell proliferation in comparison
with IGF-1 and ipriflavone is also reported.