Synthesis of Water-Soluble 7-O-Carboxymethyl-Genistein

Abstract

A three-step synthesis from genistein of the water-soluble sodium salt of 7-O-carboxymethyl-genistein is described. Base-catalysed reaction of genistein with t-butyl bromoacetate gave 7-O-(carbo-t-butoxy)methyl-genistein, which was hydrolysed by aqueous acetic acid to 7-O-carboxymethyl-genistein and neutralised (NaHCO3) to give the target compound. The carboxylate group enhanced the water-solubility of genistein more than a thousand-fold and the new derivate will be useful as a candidate compound in pharmacological and clinical chemistry studies of isoflavones.