A simple synthesis of 7,4'-dihydroxy-6-methoxyisoflavone, glycitein, the third soybean isoflavone.

4-Methoxyresorcinol (3) was synthesized as the precursor for glycitein (6) synthesis by the oxidation of 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (1) to the aryl formate with H2O2 and a catalytic amount of SeO2. Glycitein (6) was synthesized by cyclization of 2,4,4'-trihydroxy-5-methoxydeoxybenzoin (5) with N,N-dimethylformamide, boron trifluoride diethyl ether, and methanesulfonyl chloride in a microwave oven.