Synthesis of 8-C-glucosylflavones

The syntheses of orientin, parkinsonin A, isoswertiajaponin, and parkinsonin B, which are 8-C-beta -D-glucopyranosyl-3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone, 5-methyl orientin, 7-methyl orientin, and 5,7-dimethyl orientin, respectively, are reported herein. The C-glucosyl phloroacetophenone derivatives were obtained via a regio- and stereoselective O --> C glycosyl rearrangement. Aldol condensation of the C-glucosyl phloroacetophenone derivatives with 3,4-bisbenzyloxybenzaldehyde afforded the corresponding C-glucosylchalcones. Construction of the flavone system by reaction with I-2-Me2SO followed by the elimination of the 5-benzyl protecting group in the flavone structure, yielded an orientin derivative and a isoswertiajaponin derivative. Methylation of the orientin derivatives with dimethyl sulfate afforded the parkinsonin A derivative, the isoswertiajaponin derivative, and the parkinsonin B derivative. Finally, hydrogenolysis of these C-glucosylflavone derivatives led to the four 8-C-glucosylflavones. The NMR spectra of these C-glucosylflavones showed a duplication of signals corresponding to a major rotamer, along with a minor one. Based on NOESY experiments in Me2SO at ambient temperature, they adopted conformations in which the H-2 and H-4 protons in the glucose moiety were oriented toward the B-ring in the flavone structure. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.