Regioselective iodination of flavonoids by N-iodosuccinimide under neutral conditions

Regioselective synthesis of C-6 and C-8 monoiodo flavonoids, which are important intermediates for the synthesis of flavonoid natural products and drug molecules, was achieved by iodination of suitably alkylated flavonoids with N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) in DMF. The iodination gives either a C-6 or C-8 iodo flavonoid in high yield, depending on the protection pattern of the C-5 and C-7 OH groups. The mild and neutral conditions render this novel protocol particularly useful for the regioselective iodination of acid-sensitive substrates.