Synthesis of C-ring hydroxylated neoflavonoids by ligand coupling reactions

Reaction of 4-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxycoumarin derivatives with benzylox yphenylboronic acid derivatives under modified Suzuki reaction conditions a fforded the corresponding neoflavones. Selective debenzylation took place i n high yields when the palladium-catalysed hydrogenolysis was performed in the presence of acetic acid.