New Flavonoid Synthesis Process Created

U.S. chemists have developed a technology for synthesizing flavonoids — anti-oxidant chemical compounds found in certain fruits, vegetables, teas and wines.

Karl Scheidt, assistant professor of chemistry at Northwestern University, and his research team synthesized 10 different flavanones using a new general method they developed that takes advantage of one catalyst.

Scheidt said the basic research gives chemists — for the first time — a method for making new molecules based on flavonoids, setting the stage for the development of new cancer therapeutics.

Flavonoids, a broad family with more than 2,000 reported compounds, provide many different structures for chemists to investigate. In addition to those with anti-cancer activity, researchers could mimic flavonoids with beneficial properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-viral or antibiotic.

The team’s findings are reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.