Stereoselective synthesis of monomeric flavonoids

Polyphenolic compounds have recently attracted considerable interest in the field of nutrition, health and medicine. This is the result of the growing body of evidence suggesting that these compounds may act as potent antioxidants and/or modulate key biological pathways in vivo in mammals. Studies aimed at comprehending the intricate principles that govern the chemistry of these important natural products have thus accelerated over the past decade. Prominent amongst these is the ability to synthesize monomeric prototypes with and without 13C- and radio-labeling. Endeavors exploiting the stereoselective syntheses of representative classes of flavonoid monomers are reviewed here.