Semi-Synthetic Approach Leading to 8-Prenylnaringenin and 6-Prenylnaringenin: Optimization of the Microwave-Assisted Demethylation of Xanthohumol Using Design of Experiments

The isomers 8-prenylnaringenin and 6-prenylnaringenin, both secondary metabolites occurring in hops, show interesting biological effects, like estrogen-like, cytotoxic, or neuro regenerative activities. Accordingly, abundant sources for this special flavonoids are needed. Extraction is not recommended due to the very low amounts present in plants and different synthesis approaches are characterized by modest yields, multiple steps, the use of expensive chemicals, or an elaborate synthesis. An easy synthesis strategy is the demethylation of xanthohumol, which is available due to hop extraction industry, using lithium chloride and dimethylformamide, but byproducts and low yield did not make this feasible until now. In this study, the demethylation of xanthohumol to 8-prenylnaringenin and 6-prenylnaringenin is described the first time and this reaction was optimized using Design of Experiment and microwave irradiation. With the optimized conditions—temperature 198 ^◦C, 55 eq. lithium chloride, and a reaction time of 9 min, a final yield of 76% of both prenylated flavonoids is reached.