Isoflavone derivatives, synthesis from

The isoflavone 406 is prepared by the indirect a-phenylation of a ketone by reaction of phenylmercury(II) chloride with the enol acetate 405, prepared from 4-chromanone[371]. A simple synthesis of pterocarpin (409) has been achieved based on the oxypalladation of the oriho-mercurated phenol derivative 408 with the cyclic alkene 407[372,373]. 

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