Ionic liquid mediated Cu-catalyzed cascade oxa-Michael-oxidation: efficient synthesis of flavones under mild reaction conditions.

Flavonoids are a class of natural products, found in a wide range of vascular plants and dietary components. Their low toxicity and extensive biological activities, including anti-cancer and anti-bacterial, have made them attractive candidates to serve as therapeutic agents for many diseases. Herein, we disclose a highly efficient synthetic method of CuI-catalyzed cascade oxa-Michael-oxidation, using chalcones as substrates, mediated by the ionic liquid [bmim][NTf2] at a low temperature. This efficient synthetic method has demonstrated high synthetic utility and can afford flavones in good to high yields (up to 98%).