Synthesis of carpachromene and related isopentenylated derivatives of apigenin

Acacetin (4) on reaction with prenyl bromide in the presence of methanolic sodium methoxide yielded 6,8-di-C-prenyl-(5) and 6-C-prenyl-(10) derivatives. The former (5) formed the corresponding bisdihydropyrano derivative (8). Monomethyl derivative of 10 (12) gave monodihydropyrano derivative (13). DDQ reaction of 10 followed by methylation afforded di-O-methyl carpachromene (2); whereas that of 5 gave a mixture of 21 and 22.

Nuclear prenylation of apigenin (3) in a similar way gave 6,8-di-C-C-prenyl-(16), its 7-0-prenyl-(15) and 6-C-prenyl-(18) derivatives. DDQ reaction of 18 provided natural carpachromene.¹ The structure of the isopentylated apigenin isolated by Dreyer et al.² needs further consideration.