An efficient synthesis of daidzein, dimethyldaidzein, and isoformononetin

Synthesis of the soy isoflavone, daidzein, and its derivatives, isoformononetin and dimethyldaidzein, through utilization of a novel synthetic pathway is reported. This synthesis employs an enamine addition and O-methylation of 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone, a subsequent ring closure and iodination, followed by a Suzuki coupling with PEG 10000. Demethylation of either isoformononetin or dimethyldaidzein afforded daidzein.