3-O-Methylquercetine, a 3-O-methyl-3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxylflavone, was synthesized from commercially low-cost rutin in 76% overall yield and infour steps, i.e. selective benzylation of rutin, hydrolysis of glycosidicbond, regioselective methylation of 3-OH and cleavage of the benzyl group by hydrogenolysis. The structures of intermediates and the product were comfirmed by¹H NMR and MS spectra. This finding prospected to provide a shortcut to the synthesis of 3-substituted quercetin derivatives.

Key words: 3′,4′,7-O-tribenzylquercetin, 3-O-methylquercetin, synthesis