Substrate-Controlled Hydrogenation of Flavanones: Selective Synthesis of 2′-Hydroxy-1,3-Diarylpropanes and Flavans

A new substrate-controlled hydrogenation of flavanones to selectively obtain different hydrogenation products is herein reported. Thus, hydrogenation of flavanones bearing different electron-donating and electron withdrawing substituents (Cl, Br, Me, OMe, OH) provided the corresponding 1,3-diarylpropanes in excellent yields. This procedure offers a straightforward, simple, and cost-effective method for the preparation of glycosylated 2′-hydroxy-1,3-diarylpropanes derived from natural flavanones such as Naringin and Hesperedin. On the contrary, when the hydrogenation was performed over fluorinated flavanones, the corresponding flavans were selectively obtained in excellent yields.