A simple and new synthetic approach to isoflavones 1, 2 and 3 was described. This method was started from 1,3-dimethoxybenzene or 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene via a synthetic sequence of Hoesch reaction or Friedel-Crafts acylation, demethylation and cyclization to obtain common key intermediate methoxy-isoflavones. Selective hydrolysis of the methoxyisoflavones gave isoflavones 1, 2 and 3, respectively with one or more hydroxyl groups.

Key words: methoxyisoflavone, isoflavone, hydroxyisoflavone, synthesis, deoxybenzoin