Concise synthesis of prenylated and geranylated chalcone natural products by regiospecific iodination and Suzuki coupling reactions

Four natural chalcones bearing prenyl or geranyl groups, i.e., isobavachalcone (1), bavachalcone (2), xanthoangelol (3), and 2′,4′,4-trihydroxy-5′-geranylchalcone (isoxanthoangelol, 4) were synthesized by using a regio-selective iodination and the Suzuki coupling reaction as key steps. Among them, the first total synthesis of 2′,4′,4-trihydroxy-5′-geranylchalcone was achieved in 36% overall yield. Comparing with the reported methods based on C-alkylation or O-alkylation followed by Claisen rearrangement to introduce the side chain, this new strategy capitalizes on a precious regiochemical control during iodination. The overall yields for the synthesis of the first three chalcones were improved from 17% to 53%, 12% to 35%, and 28% to 50%, respectively.