Baker-Venkataraman (BV) rearrangement is the method of choice for the synthesis of flavones. The major limitation of BV is that it requires extensive protections and deprotections of hydroxyl groups which make the process lengthy and cumbersome. In the present study, a three step efficient method has been developed using simple protecting groups and easily available starting materials. New syntheses for acacetin, chrysoeriol, diosmetin, tricin and other hydroxylated flavones are described.
Keywords: Baker-Venkataraman transformation, partial methyl ethers, polyhydroxyflavones.